The Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) Precision Health function is pleased to announce its Precision Health Innovation Precision Health Innovation 2025 Awardees.
The purpose of the awards is to advance initial discovery pilots for Precision Health ICTS investigators.
This year’s awarded partnerships are:
Amanda Kolmar, MD, WashU Medicine: Department of Pediatrics – Critical Care
Proposal Title: Pharmacogenomics of Continuous Midazolam Sedation for Pediatric ICU Patients
Description: In pediatrics, sedative use for tolerance of mechanical ventilation is nearly universal. Benzodiazepines, particularly midazolam, are the most commonly used sedative, despite increasing association with multiple negative effects. Literature demonstrates midazolam clearance is impacted by variations in CYP3A4/5 genotype and patients may experience significant benefit or excess harm depending on their genotype and clearance. We propose to study polymorphisms in pediatric ICU patients that alter their midazolam clearance, via prospective observational cohort study, to identify children at risk for negative outcomes and those with highest possible benefit, leading to actionable changes in care.
Bharat Panuganti, MD, WashU Medicine: Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Proposal Title: Integrative Sparse Feature Matching, Spatial Analysis, and AI-Based Tissue Characterization for Comprehensive Multi-Modal Precision Tumor Mapping in a Laryngeal Cancer Model
Description: This study is developing an AI tool that combines different types of medical images to create detailed, real-time maps of tumors during surgery. By analyzing and matching features from various imaging methods, the tool aims to help surgeons more accurately identify and remove tumors. The project also uses machine learning to spot signs of cancer in specific images. If successful, this approach could improve cancer surgery and support further research.