as they investigate multiple molecules
simultaneously. Omic investigation is increasingly
being used in drug discovery and assessment of
their toxicity and efficacy.
Pharmacogenomics the intersection of genomics and pharmacology is the study of the role of inheritance in individual
variation in drug response which can potentially
be used to individualise and optimise drug
therapy.6 Pharmacogenomics is especially
important for oncology, as severe systemic toxicity
and unpredictable efficacy are hallmarks of cancer
therapies.7 Systems approaches to conditions such
as cancer, cardiovascular disease and obesity give
the opportunity to facilitate greatly the success of
selecting novel targets for treatments and drug
development. In the future, systems biology may
enable us to develop new approaches that will be
predictive, preventive and personalised