Under the supervision of the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Professor Dr. Sarmed H. Kathem Alkhateeb, the Continuing Education Unit at the University of Baghdad/College of Pharmacy held an in-person workshop entitled “Gut Microbiota and Drug Interactions” delivered by Assistant Lecturer Hiba Zaki Hammoodi, a faculty member at the Pharmacology and Toxicology Department.
The workshop aimed to introduce the concept of the gut microbiome and the bidirectional relationship between it and drugs, as well as the importance of utilizing this relationship to improve drug performance and reduce toxicity.
The workshop included several topics, including an introduction to the gut microbiome and its vital role in the human body, along with an explanation of the mutual relationship between gut microorganisms and various drugs. It also reviewed the effect of the microbiome on drug absorption and metabolism and how this may influence treatment efficacy or increase drug toxicity. In addition, the workshop discussed the reasons behind interindividual variations in gut microbiome composition and the impact of these differences on therapeutic responses to medications, while highlighting the importance of microbiome research in the development of modern therapies and in supporting personalized medicine trends. Furthermore, future clinical applications and the potential use of the microbiome to improve treatment efficiency and reduce drug side effects were addressed.
The workshop concluded that the gut microbiome plays a significant role in determining drug efficacy and toxicity, and that variations in its composition among individuals contribute to differences in therapeutic responses, thereby supporting the shift toward personalized medicine to improve treatment outcomes and reduce risks.
