The New York Times recently
released an article stating that President Obama wishes to start a new initiative
that will invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the development of treatments
through the study of individual’s genetics. This initiative will support biomedical
research being done by the National
Institutes of Health as well as support the regulation of diagnostic tests
by the Food and
Drug Administration.
Doctors plan to use genetic
information to determine what treatment plan will be most effective for cancer
patients, and patients with other diseases. This form of treatment has helped
reverse cystic fibrosis by identifying each patient’s genetic mutation on a
personal level rather than treating every patient alike.
This initiative sounds interesting,
but is still in its infancy. Once it’s further explained in the President’s
budget we will have a greater understanding of this initiative. I like the idea
of not treating each patient as a typical patient. There are several forms of a
single disease and this initiative may help pin point exactly what is necessary
to save a patient’s life. I look forward to seeing further information on this
initiative.
While it will not be a surprise that this initiative will stir much controversy, I do believe that there is much potential for this type of treatment system and research to help save lives. Many individuals diagnosed with cancer and other illnesses need to be treated accordingly and precision medicine seems to be a new door for a medical breakthrough. With specific and distinct treatment plans, patients are more likely to survive. Although there is controversy about how much money will be invested in biomedical research to provide this "precision medicine", the ethics behind collecting genetic data, and other issues with the initiative, the concept overall appears to be a good idea.
ReplyDelete