Featured Scholar: Todd Skaar, Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, IU School of Medicine
Genomic Medicine: Translating Genetic Discoveries into Clinical Care
Dr. Todd Skaar is an internationally recognized leader in the field of pharmacogenomics. Dr. Skaar and his research team study ways to improve the success of cancer treatment drug therapies. His work focuses on the impact of genomic variability in how these drugs interact with each other and in the body. Better understanding these drug interactions can improve outcomes and reduce hospitalizations. Dr. Skaar’s competitive translational research was awarded an NIH-funded Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA).
Dr. Skaar serves as the leader of the Pharmacogenomics (PGx) Implementation Team working under the larger Precision Health Initiative (PHI) inaugural project awarded in 2016. PGx, which utilizes a patient’s genetics to guide selection and dosing of appropriate medications, has the potential to enhance medication efficacy and minimize toxicity. Dr. Skaar’s team has successfully implemented PGx testing in cardiology, oncology, psychiatry, neurology, and in various transplant disciplines.
Dr. Skaar is passionate about mentoring and encouraging young researchers. Trainees have emerged as leaders in translational medicine, as faculty at academic institutions, as scientists working in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and as regulators at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and National Institutes of Health. Dr. Skaar exemplifies a translational scientist through his research, collaborations, mentorship of trainees, and through his positive impact on human health.
Dr. Skaar's translation of research into improved health outcomes for patients taking medications is another excellent example of how IU Indianapolis's faculty members are TRANSLATING their RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE.
Selected Publications in IU Indianapolis ScholarWorks
With several research works contributed to IU Indianapolis's free, open access repository, Dr. Skaar has made translational research knowledge available to professionals, researchers, students, and communities around the world.
Powell, N. R., Silvola, R. M., Howard, J. S., Badve, S., Skaar, T. C., & Ipe, J. (2022). Quantification of spatial pharmacogene expression heterogeneity in breast tumors. Cancer Reports (Hoboken, N.J.), e1686. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/30133
Onuoha, C. P., Ipe, J., Simpson, E., Liu, Y., Skaar, T. C., & Kreutz, R. P. (2022). MicroRNA sequencing in patients with coronary artery disease—Considerations for use as biomarker for thrombotic risk. Clinical and Translational Science, 15(8), 1946–1958. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/30129
Gallaway, K. A., Skaar, T. C., Biju, A., Slaven, J., & Tillman, E. M. (2022). A pilot study of ADRA2A genotype association with doses of dexmedetomidine for sedation in pediatric patients. Pharmacotherapy, 42(6), 453–459. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/30139
Hertz, D. L., Douglas, J. A., Miller, R. M., Kidwell, K. M., Gersch, C. L., Desta, Z., Storniolo, A. M., Stearns, V., Skaar, T. C., Hayes, D. F., Henry, N. L., & Rae, J. M. (2022). Genome-wide association study of aromatase inhibitor discontinuation due to musculoskeletal symptoms. Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/30127
Eadon, M. T., Maddatu, J., Moe, S. M., Sinha, A. D., Ferreira, R. M., Miller, B. W., Sher, S. J., Su, J., Pratt, V. M., Chapman, A. B., Skaar, T. C., & Moorthi, R. N. (2022). Pharmacogenomics of Hypertension in CKD: The CKD-PGX Study. Kidney360, 3(2), 307–316. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/30132
Lee, C. R., Thomas, C. D., Beitelshees, A. L., Tuteja, S., Empey, P. E., Lee, J. C., Limdi, N. A., Duarte, J. D., Skaar, T. C., Chen, Y., Cook, K. J., Coons, J. C., Dillon, C., Franchi, F., Giri, J., Gong, Y., Kreutz, R. P., McDonough, C. W., Stevenson, J. M., … Cavallari, L. H. (2021). Impact of the CYP2C19*17 Allele on Outcomes in Patients Receiving Genotype-Guided Antiplatelet Therapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 109(3), 705–715. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/30182
Hicks, J. K., El Rouby, N., Ong, H. H., Schildcrout, J. S., Ramsey, L. B., Shi, Y., Anne Tang, L., Aquilante, C. L., Beitelshees, A. L., Blake, K. V., Cimino, J. J., Davis, B. H., Empey, P. E., Kao, D. P., Lemkin, D. L., Limdi, N. A., P Lipori, G., Rosenman, M. B., Skaar, T. C., … Peterson, J. F. (2021). Opportunity for Genotype-Guided Prescribing Among Adult Patients in 11 US Health Systems. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 110(1), 179–188. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/30184
Powell, N. R., Shugg, T., Ly, R. C., Albany, C., Radovich, M., Schneider, B. P., & Skaar, T. C. (2021). Life-Threatening Docetaxel Toxicity in a Patient With Reduced-Function CYP3A Variants: A Case Report. Frontiers in Oncology, 11, 809527. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/30183
Tillman, E. M., Ipe, J., Weaver, K. J., Skaar, T. C., Rowan, C. M., & Slaven, J. E. (2021). Variability of Dosing and Number of Medications Needed to Achieve Adequate Sedation in Mechanically Ventilated Pediatric Intensive Care Patients. Clinical and Translational Science, 14(1), 310–316. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/30186
Hargreaves, K. A., Pratt, V. M., Medeiros, E. B., Lynnes, T. C., Granfield, C. A., Skaar, T. C., Iwata-Otsubo, A., & Tillman, E. M. (2021). Tracheal Aspirate as an Alternative Biologic Sample for Pharmacogenomics Testing in Mechanically Ventilated Pediatric Patients. Clinical and Translational Science, 14(2), 497–501. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/30185
Hertz, D. L., Douglas, J. A., Kidwell, K. M., Gersch, C. L., Desta, Z., Storniolo, A.-M., Stearns, V., Skaar, T. C., Hayes, D. F., Henry, N. L., & Rae, J. M. (2021). Genome-wide association study of letrozole plasma concentrations identifies non-exonic variants that may affect CYP2A6 metabolic activity. Pharmacogenetics and Genomics, 31(5), 116–123. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/30138
Rao, X., Thapa, K. S., Chen, A. B., Lin, H., Gao, H., Reiter, J. L., Hargreaves, K. A., Ipe, J., Lai, D., Xuei, X., Wang, Y., Gu, H., Kapoor, M., Farris, S. P., Tischfield, J., Foroud, T., Goate, A. M., Skaar, T. C., Mayfield, R. D., … Liu, Y. (2021). Allele-specific expression and high-throughput reporter assay reveal functional genetic variants associated with alcohol use disorders. Molecular Psychiatry, 26(4), 1142–1151. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/30134
Ginsburg, G. S., Cavallari, L. H., Chakraborty, H., Cooper-DeHoff, R. M., Dexter, P. R., Eadon, M. T., Ferket, B. S., Horowitz, C. R., Johnson, J. A., Kannry, J., Kucher, N., Madden, E. B., Orlando, L. A., Parker, W., Peterson, J., Pratt, V. M., Rakhra-Burris, T. K., Ramos, M. A., Skaar, T. C., … Volpi, S. (2021). Establishing the value of genomics in medicine: The IGNITE Pragmatic Trials Network. Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Genetics, 23(7), 1185–1191. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/30136
Ipe, J., Li, R., Metzger, I. F., Bo Li Lu, J., Gufford, B. T., Desta, Z., Liu, Y., & Skaar, T. C. (2021). Circulating miRNAs as Biomarkers for CYP2B6 Enzyme Activity. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 109(2), 485–493. https://hdl.handle.net/1805/30135