WHO/TDR/Crump

[BANGKOK] Thailand has launched a project combining drug research with genetic studies to develop personalised healthcare for its citizens.

The first phase of the project, launched on 13 July, will create a database of genetic and health information from thousands of Thai patients.

The underlying science is 'pharmacogenomics', in which doctors analyse a patient's genetic profile to predict which diseases they might be susceptible to and which drugs might work better than others.

This is because an individual's genetic make-up can determine how they are affected by disease, and how they respond to treatment.

Project director Wasun Chantratitaya, of the government-run Thailand Centre of Excellence for Life Science (TCELS), says the centre will use the information it collects to develop a map of genetic diversity among Thai people.

This should enable doctors to tailor their treatments to patients' genetic make-up rather than relying on trial and error, says Wasun.

The project is a collaboration between TCELS and US-based software company Oracle, whose role is to develop the database.

Under the three-year plan, the project will collate information from patients on eight diseases: thalassaemia, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, lupus, rheumatism, heart disease, cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Researchers will recruit 1,000 volunteers for each disease. Data collection has already begun for thalassaemia.