Prof. Teh Lay Kek

Professor Dr. Teh Lay Kek’s research centers on understanding how genetic variations in Asian populations impact drug safety and effectiveness.

From Pharmacogenomics to Pharmacophytogenomics: Diversity Driven Pathways in Precision Health

The Human Genome Project has established the foundation for precision health by enabling the characterisation of human genetic variation and its impact on health and disease. Pharmacogenomics has emerged as a key component of precision healthcare, providing strategies to optimise medication therapy, improve treatment outcomes, and reduce adverse drug reactions. However, despite the widespread use of herbal medicines, dietary supplements, and phytochemicals, limited understanding exists regarding how genetic diversity influences responses to these bioactive compounds. Pharmacophytogenomics represents an emerging extension of pharmacogenomics that investigates interactions between phytochemicals and genetically diverse biological targets. Since 2003, our research has contributed to the development of precision health through population genomics, pharmacogenetics, and translational bioinformatics, advancing the understanding of genetic determinants of drug response in diverse Malaysian populations, particularly in therapeutic efficacy, adverse drug reactions, and precision prescribing. Beyond pharmacogenomics, whole-genome sequencing studies of the Orang Asli population have enabled the identification of population-specific genetic profiles associated with disease susceptibility, vitamin deficiencies, and nutritional risks, supporting precision health and precision nutrition strategies. Building on this foundation, our research has expanded into pharmacophytogenomics by integrating genomics, structural bioinformatics, and molecular modelling. We have investigated phytochemical interactions with HLA-B*15:01 and HLA-B*15:02 to elucidate mechanisms underlying herb-modulated carbamazepine-induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions and evaluated genotype-dependent herb–drug interactions affecting clopidogrel response through phytochemical binding analysis of wild-type and variant proteins. Furthermore, integrating whole-genome sequencing with computational modelling has enabled the identification of genetic determinants of iron homeostasis and oxidative defence, revealing how dietary phytochemicals may interact with population-specific genetic variants to influence nutritional status and blood-related health outcomes. By integrating population genomics, computational biology, and translational science, pharmacophytogenomics provides a novel framework to understand variability in phytochemical responses across genetically diverse populations. This approach supports the future development of personalised herbal medicine, precision nutrition, and safer integration of complementary therapies into precision healthcare.