UF's Dr. Larisa Cavallari Leads Pharmacogenomics Global Research Network

Dr. Larisa Cavallari, a pharmacogenomics leader at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, will serve as president of the Pharmacogenomics Global Research Network (PGRN). Her term begins Jan. 1, 2027, as president-elect, followed by two years as president and past-president.

The PGRN announced the election at its meeting Sept. 26-27 at Northwestern University in Chicago. As president-elect, Cavallari will join the nominating and elections committees and preside over meetings when the president is absent. Her election recognizes her decade of work with the PGRN, a network whose efforts are increasingly relevant to medical advancements in Orlando.

Cavallari, who also holds the Debbie DeSantis Excellence Professor title, views the election as validation of her research career. "It is an honor to serve in this capacity for an organization dedicated to advancing precision medicine research and clinical translation," Cavallari said. "During my term, I am particularly interested in expanding global engagement and fostering new opportunities for collaboration." Her research explores how genomic variations affect drug response, especially in underserved populations, and how to implement these findings in clinical practice. These efforts align with the diverse communities across Orange County.

As director of the UF Health Precision Medicine Program, Cavallari leads a team implementing pharmacogenetic testing to guide patient therapies. Her leadership in the PGRN is expected to advance the network's mission to improve precision medicine globally for patients and researchers.