SUMMARY
The research interests of Ann M. Moyer, M.D., Ph.D., are in the development of genetic tests for primary immunodeficiencies and pharmacogenomics, as well as the evaluation and improvement of currently available testing methods and the appropriate utilization of clinical tests.
Focus areas
As a co-director of the Personalized Genomics Laboratory in the Mayo Clinic Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Dr. Moyer has developed a pharmacogenomic panel that includes genetic information to assist physicians in selecting the most appropriate medication and dose for individual patients using an evidence-based approach. She is interested in the identification of genetic variants that may lead to optimization of medications ranging from menopausal hormone therapy to antibiotics. She also works toward determining optimal approaches to clinical testing, including evaluating the suitability of currently available clinical pharmacogenomic tests for patients of diverse ethnic backgrounds, the cost-effectiveness of targeted genotyping compared with that of sequencing tests, and the implementation of clinical decision support tools to facilitate appropriate test utilization and interpretation.
Dr. Moyer also develops genetic tests for use in the diagnosis of primary immunodeficiencies and other immune-mediated disorders. In this area, her interests include identification of additional genetic variation that can lead to immunodeficiency and understanding whether and how several separate genetic variants or nongenetic factors or both may together contribute to disease presentation.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Moyer's research in pharmacogenomics may allow for new test development, further refinement of current tests and increased adoption of testing in order to improve medication selection and dosing based on individual genetic variation, including for ethnically diverse populations. Dr. Moyer's work in primary immunodeficiencies may lead to a more complete understanding of the contribution of genetic variation to primary immunodeficiencies as well as to further improvements in clinical testing.