Dr Stefanie Lip, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Pharmacogenomics and Honorary Consultant in Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Glasgow, has been awarded the Best Oral Presentation prize at the NHS Research Scotland (NRS) Conference 2025 for her talk, “Precision at Scale: How Smart Data Cut Trial Recruitment Time by 92%.”

The presentation showcased how the Living Laboratory’s PHOENIX Trial is transforming clinical research through a data-driven recruitment algorithm embedded directly within NHS systems. By continuously analysing hospital and community prescribing data, the algorithm identifies patients newly started on any of 60 pharmacogenomic medications, allowing the research team to focus on patient engagement rather than manual record screening. 

Over a four-month period, the system flagged 1,426 potentially eligible patients and automatically ruled out 783, leading to 423 randomisations across 23 specialties and 24 index drugs. This innovation delivered a 92% reduction in recruitment workload, saving the equivalent of 174 person-days of researcher time, while achieving an 80% consent rate. 

Dr Lip emphasised that this approach represents a Learning Health System in action - turning routine NHS data into real-time recruitment and evidence generation. She commented: “We’re not asking clinicians to do more work, we’re making the data the NHS already collects work harder for patient benefit.” 

The PHOENIX trial, led by Professor Sandosh Padmanabhan, Pontecorvo Chair of Pharmacogenomics, is a major step toward generating crucial evidence to drive the integration of personalised medicine as a standard practice in healthcare. The landmark trial is testing how genetic information can guide safer, more effective prescribing.

Using pharmacogenomic panel testing – which analyses multiple genes known to affect drug response – doctors can anticipate how a patient’s DNA will influence their reaction to medicines. This panel-based approach enables pre-emptive prescribing, ensuring the right drug and dose are selected before treatment starts.

Learn more about the PHOENIX Trial

The PHOENIX trial is supported by the University of Glasgow, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, myDNA, West of Scotland Innovation Hub, West of Scotland Safe Haven, and Agena Bioscience.

First published: 4 November 2025

<< News