Dynamic visualisation of individualised and population efficacy-toxicity risks

The therapeutic efficacy of any drug varies between individuals. A large part of this variability depends on the ‘pharmacokinetics’ of the drug. Pharmacokinetics refers to how the drug is processed in human body through absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME).

ADME are patient-related parameters. For example, gender, age, renal function, obesity, even genetics can result in differences in the rate of absorption, volume of distribution, metabolic rate of the drug and the rate of the drug eliminated from the body. The variability in ADME result in differences in drug concentrations, hence affect both the efficacy and toxicity of the drug. To read more about this project, click here.

This project is a submission by students Anubharath Pabba and Lee Yueh Jia to IPUR’s inaugural student data visualisation competition, Optigram, where youths share their ideas on how to visualise scientific data to communicate risks, patterns and trends.

Their project features trade-offs between therapeutic efficacy and negative side-effects of drug consumption, and the important message that these trade-offs vary between individuals. Through the use of a LED mannequin and LED panels, the proposal creatively conveys the concept of risk – that the same drug may have variations in outcomes for individuals.