Ep. 15 - Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: The Science of Drug-Gene Interactions with Michelle Beckwith

This episode features Michelle "Shelly" Beckwith, a genetics pioneer since the 1990s who worked on the Human Genome Project. She breaks down how pharmacogenetic testing helps optimize medication choices by analyzing how patients' genetic variations affect drug metabolism. The discussion covers testing methods, insurance challenges, and the real-world implementation of pharmacogenetics in clinical practice. Through her work with MedTrait, Shelly explains how understanding a patient's genetic profile can lead to more precise medication dosing and better outcomes.

https://www.medtrait.net/

Timestamps:

00:02:34 - 00:04:18: Michelle Beckwith's Professional Background

00:04:19 - 00:08:34: Different Types of Genetic Testing

00:08:34 - 00:12:34: Technical Details of Testing Methods

00:12:34 - 00:27:24: Drug Metabolism & Clinical Applications

00:27:24 - 00:35:42: Population Genetics & Healthcare Access

00:35:42 - 00:45:52: Regulatory Environment & Future Challenges

00:45:52 - 01:12:32: Implementation & Practical Applications

01:12:32 - 01:14:10: Closing Remarks

—

Michelle Beckwith

shelly@ptclabs.com

Michelle Beckwith has been at the forefront of genetics since the 90s, contributing to projects like the Human Genome Project and co-founding a laboratory specializing in DNA Human Identity testing. Her work in clinical pharmacogenetics has evolved into the foundation of MedTrait, one of our key partners at Biography Health, providing genetic insights for personalized medicine.

Dr. William Stanford MD PHD FACP

drstanford@bhipm.com

Dr. William Stanford is co-founder of Biography Health. He began his career as a mechanical and aerospace engineer at Texas Instruments in 1982 while also pursuing his interest in aviation as a flight instructor and commercial pilot. In 1991, he pivoted into biomedical science and subsequently completed the combined M.D./Ph.D. physician-scientist training program at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1998 and an internal medicine residency at UCLA in 2001. He is board-certified in internal medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

A pioneer in the field of hospital medicine, Dr. Stanford founded and led a 25-physician group of private practice hospitalists at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in 2002. After an extensive clinical career as the attending physician for over 100,000 patients, he was elected by his peers at Cedars-Sinai to be clinical chief of general internal medicine, serving in this capacity from 2017 to 2018. Inspired by recent advancements in biomedical science and medicine, Dr. Stanford completed professional certification through Stanford University’s Department of Genetics in 2018, further advancing his role as a true physician-scientist. Since 2018, he has provided genomic and precision medicine consultations through the Beverly Hills Institute for Precision Medicine

Sponsored by: Biography Health

Biography Health, where healthcare meets personalization. With their DNAbled™ Blueprint, Biography Health empowers you with a health plan based on your unique DNA, aiming to prevent disease and extend your life. Take control of your health journey with a plan as unique as you. Visit BiographyHealth.com and start your personalized healthcare journey today.

Genotyping vs. Sequencing: What's the Difference?

In this episode, Dr. William Stanford, Dr. Yelena Bykhovskaya and Taylor Cu discuss various genetic testing methods. The conversation compares genotyping, exome sequencing, and whole genome sequencing, with an emphasis on whole genome sequencing, which provides the most comprehensive genetic information.

Timestamps:

00:03:22 - Discussion begins on what popular genetic testing companies use (genotyping)

00:05:09 - Explanation of how genotyping chips (microarrays) work

00:17:24 - Clarification on the difference between genotyping and sequencing

00:20:31 - Introduction of the book analogy to explain different genetic testing methods

00:23:32 - Discussion on the pros and cons of whole genome sequencing vs. exome sequencing

00:25:48 - Conclusion on why whole genome sequencing is becoming the preferred method

--

Dr. William Stanford MD PHD FACP

drstanford@bhipm.com

Dr. William Stanford is co-founder of Biography Health. He began his career as a mechanical and aerospace engineer at Texas Instruments in 1982 while also pursuing his interest in aviation as a flight instructor and commercial pilot. In 1991, he pivoted into biomedical science and subsequently completed the combined M.D./Ph.D. physician-scientist training program at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1998 and an internal medicine residency at UCLA in 2001. He is board-certified in internal medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

A pioneer in the field of hospital medicine, Dr. Stanford founded and led a 25-physician group of private practice hospitalists at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in 2002. After an extensive clinical career as the attending physician for over 100,000 patients, he was elected by his peers at Cedars-Sinai to be clinical chief of general internal medicine, serving in this capacity from 2017 to 2018. Inspired by recent advancements in biomedical science and medicine, Dr. Stanford completed professional certification through Stanford University’s Department of Genetics in 2018, further advancing his role as a true physician-scientist. Since 2018, he has provided genomic and precision medicine consultations through the Beverly Hills Institute for Precision Medicine

Dr. Yelena Bykhovskaya

yelena@biographyhealth.com

Dr. Yelena Bykhovskaya is an accomplished scientist specializing in genetics and precision medicine. As the former Principal Scientist at Avellino Labs, she developed genetic tests for Mendelian and complex eye diseases using national and international collaborations. As the former Research Scientist at Cedars-Sinai, she made major advances in complex genetic eye diseases with groundbreaking genome-wide genetic analyses. Her earlier work in mitochondrial genetics led to major discoveries in maternally inherited deafness and other rare mitochondrial disorders. Holding a PhD in Biochemistry, Yelena has a publication record of widely cited forty-five articles in high-impact journals and delivered numerous oral and poster presentations at the national and international conferences, solidifying her leadership in genetic research.

Sponsored by: Biography Health

Biography Health, where healthcare meets personalization. With their DNAbled™ Blueprint, Biography Health empowers you with a health plan based on your unique DNA, aiming to prevent disease and extend your life. Take control of your health journey with a plan as unique as you. Visit BiographyHealth.com and start your personalized healthcare journey today.

In this episode, Dr. Yelena Bykhovskaya, Chief Scientific Officer at Biography Health, shares her expertise in genetics. We explore the importance of both polygenic and monogenic risk scores in patient care. The conversation underscores the value of combining cutting-edge genetic analysis with traditional clinical factors in the evolving field of precision medicine, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to patient care.

Resources Mentioned:

https://www.genomeweb.com/

https://www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/

Timestamps:

00:03:34 - LinkedIn sparks Bykhovskaya-Stanford collaboration

00:06:27 - Stanford highlights Bykhovskaya's genetic risk expertise

00:13:13 - Genetic risk vs. family history explained

00:18:18 - Human Genome Project revolutionizes genetic analysis

00:24:54 - Whole genome sequencing: Key to comprehensive risk assessment

00:28:49 - High polygenic scores rival monogenic variants in risk

00:33:33 - Early intervention: Combating genetic predispositions

00:38:09 - Integrated risk scores: Combining genetics and clinical factors

00:44:00 - Basic genetic knowledge empowers doctors

00:52:59 - Addressing European bias in genetic studies

Dr. William Stanford MD PHD FACP

Dr. William Stanford is co-founder of Biography Health. He began his career as a mechanical and aerospace engineer at Texas Instruments in 1982 while also pursuing his interest in aviation as a flight instructor and commercial pilot. In 1991, he pivoted into biomedical science and subsequently completed the combined M.D./Ph.D. physician-scientist training program at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1998 and an internal medicine residency at UCLA in 2001. He is board-certified in internal medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

A pioneer in the field of hospital medicine, Dr. Stanford founded and led a 25-physician group of private practice hospitalists at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in 2002. After an extensive clinical career as the attending physician for over 100,000 patients, he was elected by his peers at Cedars-Sinai to be clinical chief of general internal medicine, serving in this capacity from 2017 to 2018. Inspired by recent advancements in biomedical science and medicine, Dr. Stanford completed professional certification through Stanford University’s Department of Genetics in 2018, further advancing his role as a true physician-scientist. Since 2018, he has provided genomic and precision medicine consultations through the Beverly Hills

Sponsored by: Biography Health

Biography Health, where healthcare meets personalization. With their DNAbled™ Blueprint, Biography Health empowers you with a health plan based on your unique DNA, aiming to prevent disease and extend your life. Take control of your health journey with a plan as unique as you. Visit BiographyHealth.com and start your personalized healthcare journey today.