Sites of interest on the World Wide Web–edited by Rick Neubig and David Roman
NIGMS Short Course Offerings
In this month’s “Speaking of Pharmacology” section, course offerings from NIGMS on integrative and organ systems pharmacology are highlighted. Be sure to check out the Short Courses in IOSP Web page (http://archive.nigms.nih.gov/funding/iosp.html) for the full description of the course descriptions and venues.
Fats and Oils on the WWW
This month’s review article by Lamour and Chalfant highlights ceramide-1-phosphate as the “missing link” in eicosanoid biosynthesis and inflammation. A Web site that brings the study of fats and oils into the age of cyberspace is provided by the aptly named Cyberlipid Center (http://www.cyberlipid.org). The purpose of this site is to collect and distribute information on all aspects of lipidology. On-site protocols, links to other protocol sites, and up-to-date references (in the news section) to exciting papers in the field of lipids are all available. There is also a calendar that offers information about upcoming meetings of interest for researchers in the field, as well as a large number of links to publishers, online journals, libraries, discussion groups, and other cyberspots. The Cyberlipid Center offers a large amount of content for those interested in the practical aspects of studying lipids and should serve as a useful resource.
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenomics
PharmGKB, the Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base, located at http://www.pharmgkb.org, offers a variety of resources for those interested in this rapidly expanding field of research. PharmGKB was developed by Stanford University as part of the NIH Pharmacogenetics Research Network. The goal of the network is to understand how genetic variation causes differential reactions to drugs in patients. The site is user-friendly and easily navigated. Central to the Web site is the PharmGKB database, which contains genetic and clinical information from research participants in various Pharmacogenetics Research Network studies. While those studies alone present a valuable resource, the Web site also accepts genomic, molecular, and cellular data, as well as clinical phenotypes from researchers outside the network. The pharmacogenetic knowledge is presented in logical divisions, identified by clinical outcome, pharmacodynamics and drug response, pharmacokinetics, and molecular and cellular functional analysis. The continued growth of this NIH-supported database will undoubtedly make the data amassing through the study of pharmacogenetics more valuable and accessible to researchers.
- © American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Theraputics 2005
