Pharmacogenetics Laboratory

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Pharmacogenetics Laboratory

Improving Care at a Genetic Level

The Pharmacogenetics Laboratory at Nemours Children's in North Florida studies how individual genetic variations affect how children respond to medications. For any treatment, some kids respond better than others. This variability is largely linked to genetic differences that affect how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated from the body.

Our lab supports Nemours researchers and clinicians by analyzing genetic samples, identifying relevant genetic markers, and interpreting how these markers influence medication responses. We work with specialized equipment that can process up to 1,600 genetic tests daily, allowing us to efficiently analyze large amounts of genetic data and accelerate discoveries in pediatric care.

The insights we gain help physicians make more informed treatment decisions for conditions ranging from respiratory diseases to gastrointestinal disorders and depression. This means children can receive more targeted therapies with better outcomes and fewer side effects. By advancing the science of pharmacogenetics, we're working toward a future where every child receives the right medication at the right dose from the start.

Our work directly supports the Center for Pharmacogenomics & Translational Research, helping move discoveries from laboratory to practical improvements in clinical care. We're also training the next generation of pharmacogenomics researchers through our long-standing partnership with the University of Florida. Through both our research and educational efforts, we're making treatment more effective, safer, and tailored to each child's unique genetic profile. 

Principal Investigator

Edward Mougey, PhD

Edward Mougey, PhD

Research Scientist

Lab Team

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Our Areas of Focus

Making Asthma Treatments Work Better

We study why some children with asthma respond well to certain medications while others don't. By looking at specific genetic markers, we can help doctors choose the right asthma medications for each child. This work has been ongoing for over 20 years with the American Lung Association.

Improving Treatments for Gastrointestinal Problems

Children with conditions like acid reflux or inflammation of the food pipe (eosinophilic esophagitis, or EoE) often respond differently to the same medications. We study how a child's genes affect these responses, helping doctors select treatments that will work best for each individual child while minimizing side effects. 

Creating Mini-Organs for Testing New Treatments

We grow tiny 3D models of human tissues (called organoids) from patient samples. These mini-organs let us test how different treatments might work in a specific child before giving them the medication. We started with models of the food pipe (esophagus) and are now working to create models from other parts of the digestive system. Using special techniques to analyze these mini-organs, we can better understand both why diseases happen and how to treat them in each child.

Research Collaborations 

Medical staff looking at laptop monitor

Located in the UF Health Shands Biomedical Research Building in Jacksonville, Florida, our work is strengthened through collaborations with researchers and institutions around the world.

  • American Lung Association Airways Clinical Research Centers Network: Long-standing partnership for biorepository support and pharmacogenomic studies.
  • University of Florida College of Pharmacy: Collaborative research and training opportunities for pharmacy students.
  • International Gastroenterology Research Network: Partnerships with investigators in Madrid, Spain, Emory University, and the University of Pittsburgh.
  • Boston Children's Hospital: Collaborative studies on esophageal atresia and related conditions.

Research Partnerships

We expand our knowledge and leverage diverse perspectives with partnerships and collaborations within and outside our field of study. Partnerships include:

Pulmonology & Respiratory Medicine

David G. Chapman, PhD — University of Technology Sydney
Charles G. Irvin, PhD — University of Vermont
Enid Neptune, MD — Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Steven P. Peters, MD, PhD — Wake Forest School of Medicine
Bob A. Wise, MD — Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Kelan G. Tantisira, MD, MPH — University of California San Diego
Scott T. Weiss, MD, PhD — Harvard School of Medicine

Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Evan Dellon, MD, MPH — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Sonia Fernández-Fernández, MD, PhD — Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa, Spain
James P. Franciosi, MD, MSCE, FAAP — University of Louisville
Roberto A. Gomez-Suarez, MD — Nemours Children’s Hospital
Morris Gordon, MD — University of Central Lancashire, UK
Sandeep Gupta, MD — University of Alabama at Birmingham
Carolina Gutiérrez-Junquera, MD, PhD — Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain
Samuel Nurko, MD — Boston Children's Hospital
Rachel Rosen, MD — Boston Children's Hospital

Pharmacogenomics & Translational Research

Lari Cavallari, PharmD — University of Florida College of Pharmacy
Julie A. Johnson, PharmD — Ohio State University

Pediatrics & Precision Medicine

Jason E. Lang, MD, MPH — Duke University School of Medicine
Len Bacharier, MD — Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Genomics & Network Medicine

Hooman Allayee, PhD — University of Southern California
Channing Division of Network Medicine — Brigham and Women's Hospital

Research in Context

Our labs contribute to research that informs pediatric care, working in alignment with research centers and focused areas of scientific study at Nemours.