University of Glasgow Leads One of the World’s Largest Genetic Trials to Improve NHS Prescribing Practices

University of Glasgow Leads One of the World’s Largest Genetic Trials to Improve NHS Prescribing Practices

(IN BRIEF) The University of Glasgow is leading the PHOENIX Study, a landmark clinical trial investigating how genetic testing can personalise prescribing across NHS Scotland. Over 4,000 patients will be recruited across Greater Glasgow and Clyde to explore how DNA profiling can guide treatment with 60 common medications. The trial, delivered in partnership with QEUH, the University’s Living Laboratory, the West of Scotland Innovation Hub, MyDNA, and Agena Bioscience, aims to show how pharmacogenomics can reduce side effects, enhance treatment outcomes, and make precision medicine a core part of NHS care. If successful, it could lead to widespread adoption of personalised prescribing across the UK.

(PRESS RELEASE) GLASGOW, 18-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of Glasgow is proud to be leading a pioneering new clinical study in Scotland aimed at transforming how medicines are prescribed across the NHS. The PHOENIX Study, one of the largest pharmacogenomics trials ever conducted globally, will explore how a simple genetic test can help doctors personalise treatments, improving drug effectiveness and significantly reducing the risk of side effects.

Spearheaded by Professor Sandosh Padmanabhan, Pontecorvo Chair of Pharmacogenomics at the University of Glasgow, the PHOENIX Study will recruit up to 4,000 patients across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde over the next two years. The trial will evaluate the impact of using patients’ genetic profiles to guide the prescription of 60 widely used NHS medications—marking a major step forward in realising the potential of precision medicine.

Delivered in collaboration with Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), the University’s Living Laboratory, the NHSGGC-hosted West of Scotland Innovation Hub, and industry partners MyDNA and Agena Bioscience, the study aims to provide the real-world evidence needed to bring pharmacogenomics into everyday clinical practice.

Patients newly prescribed one or more of the 60 trial medications will be offered a non-invasive DNA test. The genetic results, returned within days, will inform clinicians whether a drug is suitable and at what dosage based on the individual’s genetic makeup. This approach stands in contrast to the current trial-and-error method, where genetic differences often go unrecognised, sometimes leading to adverse drug reactions or ineffective treatments.

An estimated 15% of patients carry genetic variations that influence how they metabolise medications. By identifying these differences in advance, the PHOENIX Study has the potential to drastically reduce treatment failures and drug-related side effects. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive their genetic results immediately or after three months, allowing researchers to rigorously compare outcomes and measure clinical and economic benefits.

Participants will come from a wide range of clinical areas—including cardiology, psychiatry, stroke, respiratory, neurology, surgery, and geriatrics—ensuring that findings are representative of the broad spectrum of patients across NHS services.

Professor Padmanabhan, who is also a consultant at QEUH, said: “There is growing recognition that prescribing guided by pharmacogenomics can improve both the safety and effectiveness of drug treatment. This study will give us the robust data needed to support wider adoption of genetic testing as part of routine NHS care.”

Dr Katriona Brooksbank, Research and Innovation Lead for NHSGGC and the West of Scotland Innovation Hub, said: “The PHOENIX Study brings precision medicine into real-world settings. It has the potential to revolutionise the way we prescribe by ensuring each patient receives the right treatment, at the right dose, from the start.”

Among the first to take part is patient Eric Balish, who joined the study after suffering a heart attack and being prescribed clopidogrel—one of the drugs included in the trial. His participation reflects the study’s goal of delivering tangible benefits to patients now, while laying the foundation for improved care in the future.

Allan Sheffield, Co-Founder of MyDNA, added: “For us, the PHOENIX Study represents the future of medicine. By combining validated genetic testing with clinician decision support tools, we’re moving from guesswork to truly personalised care.”

If successful, the PHOENIX Study could lead to the routine use of genetic testing across Scotland’s NHS, placing the University of Glasgow at the forefront of a healthcare revolution driven by precision medicine.

Media Contact:

email: media@glasgow.ac.uk

SOURCE: University of Glasgow