Faculty Directory

Yui-Wing Francis Lam, Ph.D.

Professor

Pharmacology

Significant variability in efficacy and toxicity of medications among patients is largely attributed to innate differences in their capacity to eliminate and react to medications.  Dr. Lam has studied how ethnicity and genetic differences affect disposition and response to psychotherapeutic drugs.  This has translated to improved understanding of the biological basis for why patients require different doses to elicit appropriate responses, particularly Asians.  Dr. Lam’s earlier findings suggested a genetic basis for variation in drug metabolism and response in Mexican Americans in San Antonio.  His current focus is whether variation in genes that encode enzymes, transporters, and targets in Hispanics can be utilized for personalized cancer therapy, and is working with CTRC investigators to integrate pharmacogenomics into anticancer drug development.