Clinical pharmacologists are ambassadors of pharmacogenetics: highlights from the ClinPharm-Expert 2026 congress

In May 2026, Moscow hosted the IV Russian Congress "Pharmacotherapy Safety 360°: Noli nocere!" with unprecedented success, culminating in the Congress of Clinical Pharmacologists "ClinPharm-Expert 2026." These events proved truly landmark for our professional community, setting the trajectory for the specialty's development for years to come. As demonstrated by the forum's program, one of the principal strategic directions of this development became personalized medicine, inextricably linked with pharmacogenetics, pharmacogenomics, and therapeutic drug monitoring.

Pharmacogenetics-related topics ran as a red thread throughout both the scientific and organizational agenda of the Congress. The plenary session featured a lecture entitled "Pharmacogenetics and Drug Safety," which once again underscored the fundamental role of genetic factors in shaping individual responses to pharmacotherapy and in preventing adverse drug reactions. The modern clinical pharmacologist can no longer conceive of practice without these tools—from pharmacogenetic testing to therapeutic drug monitoring.

Particular interest among participants was generated by the session "Personalized Pharmacotherapy in Clinical Pharmacologist Practice and Its Laboratory Infrastructure," moderated by members of the editorial board of our journal Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics. The Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Professor K.B. Mirzaev, MD, PhD, and the Scientific Editor, Professor B.I. Kantemirova, MD, PhD, not only skillfully guided the discussion but also presented their own reports on current issues of implementing pharmacogenetic testing into routine clinical practice. Experience was shared from the World-Class Genomic Research Center under the leadership of Professor K.B. Mirzaev, as well as regional developments from colleagues in Astrakhan, Arkhangelsk, Yakutsk, and other subjects of the Russian Federation.

The principal outcome of the Congress was the adoption of a comprehensive Resolution, which codifies specific steps for the development of the specialty "Clinical Pharmacology" in the coming years. Among the priority directions is the systematic integration of clinical-pharmacological personalized medicine technologies, including pharmacogenetic testing and therapeutic drug monitoring, into developing clinical guidelines. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of clinical pharmacologists as ambassadors for implementing pharmacogenetics into real clinical practice. It falls upon them the responsibility for elucidating the clinical significance of pharmacogenetic tests to colleagues, interpreting their results, and making personalized decisions regarding drug selection and dosing regimens. The Resolution also provides for the formulation of proposals to include clinical pharmacologist consultations in the clinical-statistical groups (CSG) system, the organization of physician training on pharmacotherapeutic substitution issues, the development of networking continuing professional education programs, including courses in clinical pharmacogenetics, and the prospects for establishing a National Research Medical Center for Clinical Pharmacology. These measures will harmonize approaches to drug therapy and ensure its maximum efficacy and safety, as well as cost-effectiveness for each patient.

An important event of the Congress was also the awarding of prizes for best scientific works in the fields of pharmacotherapy safety and pharmacovigilance—the "Noli nocere!" award for the best published scientific article of 2025 and the "LekBez" competition for young scientists' research. It is gratifying to note that a number of works devoted to pharmacogenetics topics received prize places, which testifies to the growing interest of researchers in this promising field and the recognition of its significance at the highest level.

I would like to particularly note that our journal Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics, along with all publications of "OKI Publishing House" under the leadership of D.Yu. Belousov, served as information partners of the Congress. We endeavored to provide comprehensive coverage of the most significant scientific results and organizational decisions made during the forum.

Furthermore, of particular significance to us, on the eve of this event a momentous milestone was achieved: on May 26, 2026, the journal Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics was included in the largest international database Scopus. The reviewers noted that it presents "interesting Russian perspectives on important evolving fields of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics that deserve a wider international audience." Additionally, the journal was included in the "White List" (the Unified State Register of Scientific Periodicals) at Category 2 level, confirming its high standing in Russian science. These achievements are the result of the work of the entire editorial board and our authors, and they open new opportunities for international recognition of the research published in our pages.

And, of course, mention must be made of the fact that the Congress concluded with a vibrant and memorable social event—the "ClinPharmRun"—a 5 km run along the Moscow embankment. Our clinical pharmacologist colleagues once again demonstrated that they are always at the forefront—not only in science and clinical practice but also in commitment to a healthy lifestyle. This sporting finale became a symbol of the energy, solidarity, and optimism of our community, dedicated to constant forward motion.

In conclusion, I consider it my pleasant duty to express sincere gratitude to the Organizing Committee for the impeccable preparation of the event, to all speakers for the depth and relevance of the data presented, and to each participant for their lively interest and active discussion. Special appreciation is extended to the Director of the B.V. Petrovsky Russian Scientific Center of Surgery, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences K.V. Kotenko, who serves as a member of the editorial board of our journal, and to the entire staff of the Center for providing the magnificent venue that became the home for our professional unity.

The Congress has shown that we stand on the threshold of a new era—an era in which decisions regarding drug selection and dosage will increasingly be made based on the patient's pharmacogenetic passport. Our common task is to make this knowledge accessible to every physician and to establish pharmacogenetic testing as a standard step in the management of high-risk patients. I am confident that the decisions adopted at "ClinPharm-Expert 2026" and codified in the Resolution will become a solid foundation for this work.

With respect and hope for shared success,

Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, MD, PhD, Professor

Dmitry A. Sychev

Editor-in-Chief of the journal Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics

Chief External Specialist—Clinical Pharmacologist of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation

RESOLUTION OF THE CONGRESS OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGISTS, HELD ON MAY 21–22, 2026 IN MOSCOW WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE IV RUSSIAN CONGRESS "PHARMACOTHERAPY SAFETY 360°: NOLI NOCERE!"

The participants of the Congress consider the following as the primary task of the professional community of clinical pharmacologists:

Clinical pharmacologists play a key role in the implementation of the Healthcare Development Strategy until 2030 (Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 896 of December 8, 2025 "On the Healthcare Development Strategy in the Russian Federation for the Period until 2030") in the following areas, which will contribute to increasing life expectancy and improving the quality of life:

• Ensuring effective, safe, and cost-effective pharmacotherapy for patients;

• Forming technological sovereignty and introducing domestic drugs into clinical practice;

• Pharmacovigilance in medical organizations and surveillance of adverse events following immunization;

• Curbing antimicrobial resistance;

• Implementing personalized medicine technologies, including pharmacogenetics and therapeutic drug monitoring;

• Combating polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing, improving patient adherence to pharmacotherapy, and responsible self-medication.

To achieve this objective, the following measures are necessary:

1. To develop and coordinate with the Ministry of Health of Russia a Strategy for the development of the "medical" specialty "Clinical Pharmacology" until 2030.

   Executors: Jointly: Chief External Specialist (CES), Profile Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
   Deadline: October 1, 2026

2. To formulate proposals for increasing the demand for clinical pharmacologists in medical organizations, as well as as experts at regional and federal levels (expert work on interchangeability and pharmacotherapeutic substitution, embedding clinical pharmacologist consultations into clinical guidelines, quality criteria for medical care, standards of medical care, etc.).

   Executors: Jointly: CES, Profile Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
   Deadline: November 1, 2026

3. To update regulatory legal acts concerning the activities of clinical pharmacologists and drug supply:

   • Procedure for providing medical care in the profile "Clinical Pharmacology";

   • Ministry of Health Order No. 494 "On Improving the Activities of Clinical Pharmacologists";

   • Professional standard for clinical pharmacologists;

   • Ministry of Health Order No. 1094n "On Approval of the Procedure for Prescribing Drugs, Forms of Prescription Forms for Drugs, Procedure for Completing Said Forms, Their Accounting and Storage, Forms of Prescription Forms Containing Prescriptions for Narcotic Drugs or Psychotropic Substances, Procedure for Their Manufacture, Distribution, Registration, Accounting and Storage, as well as Rules for Completing Prescription Forms, including in the Form of Electronic Documents."

   Executors: Jointly: CES, Profile Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
   Deadline: December 1, 2026

4. To formulate proposals for including clinical pharmacologist consultations in the clinical-statistical groups (CSG) system (when submitting a patient treatment case for payment (with any ICD code) in the presence of a clinical pharmacologist consultation in the medical record). To submit a request to TsNIIOIZ and the Ministry of Health of Russia for obtaining the results of time-motion studies of clinical pharmacologists (2023) for subsequent submission of a request to the Ministry of Health of Russia for the development of a regulatory act defining standard workload norms for specialist physicians.

   Executors: Jointly: CES, Profile Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
   Deadline: December 1, 2026 (for time-motion studies), April 1, 2027 (for tariffs).

5. To organize interaction with professional associations and the Central Expert Commission for the Development of Clinical Guidelines (CECD CG) of the Ministry of Health of Russia for the inclusion of clinical pharmacologists in working groups for the development of clinical guidelines (especially in the fields of cardiology, oncology, gastroenterology, neurology, psychiatry, pulmonology, rheumatology, hematology, anesthesiology and intensive care, pediatrics, geriatrics, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and other areas) for the purpose of embedding clinical pharmacologist consultations and expert review of pharmacotherapy sections, including:

   • Incorporation of clinical-pharmacological personalized medicine technologies (pharmacogenetic testing, therapeutic drug monitoring);

   • Inclusion of information on drug-drug interactions;

   • Inclusion of tools to combat polypharmacy / deprescribing algorithms;

   • Harmonization of information presented in clinical guidelines in accordance with regulatory documents on drug circulation, including prescribing information.

   Executors: Jointly: CES, Profile Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
   Deadline: Ongoing.

6. To explore the feasibility and propose a concept for a National Research Medical Center for Clinical Pharmacology based on a scientific or educational organization, including a Drug Information Telemedicine Center for organizational-methodological, medical-consultative, and scientific work in the field of clinical pharmacology.

   Executors: Jointly: CES, Profile Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
   Deadline: February 1, 2027

7. To establish a working group and organize training for clinical pharmacologists to conduct expert review at various levels (medical organization, regional, federal) on issues of interchangeability and pharmacotherapeutic substitution, as well as pharmacovigilance.

   Executors: Jointly: CES, Profile Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
   Deadline: October 1, 2026

8. To develop recommendations on the organization and procedures of formulary committees in medical organizations as a clinical pharmacologist's tool defining drug policy in the medical organization. To harmonize drug formularies of medical organizations with current clinical guidelines and the Summary of Product Characteristics for medical use.

   Executors: Jointly: CES, Profile Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
   Deadline: November 1, 2026, thereafter ongoing.

9. To petition the Department of State Regulation of Drug Circulation of the Ministry of Health of Russia with a proposal to consider clinical pharmacologists as principal investigators in clinical trials, provided that the research team includes physicians of other specialties, given the integrative nature of clinical pharmacology and the competencies of clinical pharmacologists to structure and oversee the work of research centers.

   Executors: Jointly: CES, Profile Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
   Deadline: October 1, 2026

10. To develop and approve recommendations of professional associations in clinical pharmacology for teaching the discipline "Clinical Pharmacology" at the specialist and residency levels, recommending to universities: baseline volumes of the discipline "Clinical Pharmacology"; definition of mandatory sections (modules) of the discipline for all specialties; requirements for practical training of students; forms of current and interim assessment. The recommendations should not contradict federal state educational standards.

    Executors: Jointly: Educational-Methodological Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance (within the framework of the Education Committee), Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
    Deadline: December 1, 2026

11. To develop recommendations of professional associations in clinical pharmacology for career guidance work regarding the specialty "Clinical Pharmacology," teaching the discipline "Clinical Pharmacology" at the residency level, as well as mentoring of young clinical pharmacologists (within the framework of the Education Committee of the Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance).

    Executors: Jointly: Educational-Methodological Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance (within the framework of the Education Committee), Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
    Deadline: February 1, 2027

12. To organize the work of regional Chief External Specialists in clinical pharmacology on the formation of admission target figures for residency and applications for professional retraining cycles in clinical pharmacology, as well as coordinating the formation of applications for continuing education cycles for clinical pharmacologists and selection of candidates for training within the state assignment.

    Executors: Jointly: CES, Profile Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
    Deadline: September 1, 2026

13. To continue work on updating the assessment tool funds for primary and primary specialized accreditation, as well as the assignment of qualification categories in clinical pharmacology.

    Executors: CES, Educational-Methodological Commission.
    Deadline: Ongoing.

14. To initiate and organize the development of networking continuing professional education programs for clinical pharmacologists and related specialties:

    • "Rational Antimicrobial Therapy and Prevention" (72 hours);

    • "Clinical Pharmacogenetics with Fundamentals of Personalized Pharmacotherapy" (72 hours);

    • "Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention" (72 hours);

    • "Polypharmacy in Medical Organizations: Problem and Solutions" (72 hours);

    • "Pharmacovigilance" (72 hours);

    • "Methodology of Clinical Trials. Real-World Evidence Studies" (72 hours).

    Executors: Jointly: CES, Educational-Methodological Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
    Deadline: March 1, 2027

15. To initiate the allocation of a state assignment for continuing education of clinical pharmacology faculty at all levels (specialist, residency, continuing professional education) to leading clinical pharmacology departments.

    Executors: Jointly: CES, Educational-Methodological Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
    Deadline: October 1, 2026

16. To submit a proposal to the Ministry of Health of Russia to amend Ministry of Health Order No. 703 of July 25, 2001 "On Approval of the Regulations on the Competition 'Best Doctor of the Year'," supplementing the list of nominations with the position "Best Clinical Pharmacologist."

    Executors: Jointly: CES, Profile Commission, Educational-Methodological Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
    Deadline: September 1, 2026

17. To develop a concept and conduct annually:

    • Olympiad in Clinical Pharmacology for students and residents;

    • "Thematic Battles" in Clinical Pharmacology for clinical pharmacologists.

    Executors: CES, Profile Commission, Educational-Methodological Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
    Deadline: March 1, 2027

18. To establish a registry of Chief External Specialists in clinical pharmacology of regions and clinical pharmacologists of medical organizations.

    Executors: CES, CES of Federal Districts, Profile Commission.
    Deadline: September 1, 2026

19. To formulate a unified annual plan of scientific-practical and corporate events for clinical pharmacologists. For 2027, to formulate a plan of scientific-practical events in clinical pharmacology, as well as cultural and sporting events for clinical pharmacologists, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the medical specialty "Clinical Pharmacology."

    Executors: CES, Profile Commission, Educational-Methodological Commission, Eurasian Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Association of Clinical Pharmacologists.
    Deadline: November 15, 2026