On Monday, the 13th of February 2023, Dr. Walid Elsayed, Associate Professor of Oral Histopathology at the College of Dentistry, Gulf Medical University, delivered a research seminar on “The Use of SNPs in Pharmacogenomics Studies.” The seminar attracted numerous faculty members of the College of Pharmacy and candidates of the Master of Drug Discovery and Development. Dr. Elsayed, who possesses a wealth of expertise and knowledge in medical education, oral biology, oral pathology, and cancer research, earned his bachelor’s degree in dental medicine and surgery from Cairo University, master’s degree in oral biology and oral pathology from Suez Canal University, and Ph.D. from Leeds University in the UK.
During the seminar, Dr. Elsayed discussed the critical role of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in disease induction and the ability to target them via gene therapy. The discussion further elaborated the importance of epigenetics, and the role it plays in regulating gene expression. Additionally, precision medicine, which tailors medical treatment to a patient’s specific genetic profile, was thoroughly explored. The talk highlighted the significance of identifying SNPs to develop targeted treatments and the significance of measuring each level of the central dogma of human genetic makeup.
The presentation concluded with a thought-provoking discussion on the impact of SNPs, epigenetics, and precision medicine on medication selection and patient care.