Cyrine-Eliana Haidar, PharmD

Overview

Pharmacogenomics is the study and application of how an individual’s genetic status affects their likely response to therapeutic drugs. To improve pediatric patient treatment for cancer and other catastrophic diseases, we must better understand how genetics impact drug response and make this information accessible to clinicians and patients alike. My research at St. Jude explores this complex relationship between genetics and therapeutics and aims to increase pharmacogenomic testing in clinical practice at St. Jude, nationally and globally.

Research Summary

My research focuses on implementing preemptive pharmacogenomic testing into clinical practice, which helps clinicians tailor the pharmacotherapy of patients based on their pharmacogenomic profile. This involves developing ways to best integrate pharmacogenomics testing into the electronic health record. For clinicians, this creates easy access and utilization of the pharmacogenomic test results during their day-to-day patient treatment. In addition, patients learn about the lifelong implications of their pharmacogenomic test results, hopefully empowering them to share these results with their non–St. Jude health care providers when they return to their home environments.

I have concentrated my efforts on starting the Pharmacogenomics Clinic at St. Jude. This clinic saw its first patient in November of 2023 and focuses on returning pharmacogenomic test results to patients and their families. Additionally, I have worked closely with Epic in establishing and co-leading the Pharmacogenomics Brain Trust, Epic’s first genomic-based brain trust. Drawing from the St. Jude pharmacogenomic implementation expertise and Epic’s experience, the Brain Trust’s goal is to create robust and standardized support for pharmacogenomics within Epic and across organizations. This would enable a more seamless integration of pharmacogenomics within the electronic health record frameworks. I am also the first pharmacogenomic representative on Epic’s Genetics and Genomics Specialty Sterring Board.

My clinical research explores the impact of patients’ genetics combined with certain medications or dosage levels on treatment outcomes. Notably, my collaboration with Jun J. Yang, PhD, investigates how dosages of thiopurines, such as mercaptopurine, need to be reduced in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment to minimize and mitigate toxicity in patients with reduced abilities to metabolize Thiopurine-S-methyltransferase (TPMT) and Nudix hydrolase 15 (NUDT15).

Selected Publications

Assessment of the current status of real-world pharmacogenomic testing: informed consent, patient education, and related practices

Pereira et al. Front Pharmacol., 2024

Additive effects of TPMT and NUDT15 on thiopurine toxicity in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia across multiethnic populations.

Maillard et al. J Natl Cancer Inst, 2024

Updated DPYD HapB3 haplotype structure and implications for pharmacogenomic testing

Turner et al. Clin Transl Sci., 2024

Communication transforms the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with cancer and their families

Ferrara et al. Cancer Med., 2023

Clinician adherence to pharmacogenomics prescribing recommendations in clinical decision support alerts

Nguyen et al. J Am Med Inform Assoc, 2022

ASHP Statement on the Pharmacist’s Role in Clinical Pharmacogenomics

Haidar et al. Am J Health Syst Pharm, 2022

Utilizing multilingual methods and rapid analysis for global qualitative research during a pandemic

Graetz D, et al. Glob Qual Nurs Res, 2022

Incorporating G6PD genotyping to identify patients with G6PD deficiency

Morris et al. Pharmacogenet Genomics, 2021

About Cyrine-Eliana Haidar

Cyrine Haidar, PharmD, obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the Lebanese American University. She then completed residencies at Hackensack University Medical Center and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she further developed her skills in pharmacy practice and pediatric oncology, respectively. In 2023, she was promoted to Associate Faculty Member in the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, where she focuses on the clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics in pediatrics and oncology settings.

Faculty bio