PHOTO: Personalized precision medicine on the rocks

By Dustin Massengill–

The “Beer with a Scientist” crew invited Roland Vlades Jr., a professor from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, to uncover the science and practicality of personal metabolic absorption of medicine on March 23.

: “The fact that an event like this is out here is amazing, I mean this medical breakthrough is crazy. I mean no doctor has ever mentioned anything like it to me. Where else could I come to learn something like this,” one attendee said.

: Levi Beverly, the initiator of “Beer with a scientist,” has been putting on these events for two years now, with an event every month.

: “We have a lot of amazing stuff happening in our science and health communities here in Louisville, and this is just a way to let those people be appreciated and let our community hear about it. I mean honestly most people don’t know what is going on in those,” Shane Benton, General Manager of ATG, said.

: “I saw it through my Facebook feed where one of my friends was interested and I am so glad I found it,” Elizabeth Otting said.

: “It really creates a relaxed forum for this conversation, which for some people can seem too difficult or taboo,” Benton said.

: “As a student that works in the lab doing all this work, it is nice to see it getting put out there,” Julie Gosney said.

: “It can cost between $400-$450 to have these enzymes looked at. But in the end it really can save lives and money,” Dr. Roland Valdes said. “What we are looking at here is taking a glance at your genomes so we can understand how each individual person will metabolize these medicines.”