Applications of Molecular Technologies to Clinical Medicine
Scientific advances in the genome and data sciences in the past decade have provided an opportunity to deliver health care in a distinctly patient-centered way. Precision medicine uses individual molecular information as well as highly specific clinical information to assess individual risks and develop tailored prevention and treatment strategies. Genome-based technologies (i.e., assays of RNA, proteins, and metabolites) are augmenting diagnosis and treatment as well as changing the taxonomy of disease. Genetic variation associated with drug response, or pharmacogenomics, now provides more precise targeting of therapeutics to an individual’s genetic background to optimize the benefit and reduce the risks associated with drug therapies. Despite progress and momentum in the discovery of genomic information with great potential to affect health care, significant challenges and barriers have limited the broad use of genomics in clinical practice. Four of these barriers are: (1) evidence generation; (2) implementation and education; (3) data ownership, sharing, and infrastructure; and (4) participant diversity, engagement, and trust. Until these are challenges are fully addressed, precision medicine may remain a futuristic concept rather than being fully integrated into mainstream medicine.
