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

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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.