Precision medicine is an emerging field in healthcare that reaffirms the notion that medicine is not “one-size-fits-all.” It emphasizes the importance of individual patient characteristics like genetic makeup, molecular characteristics, patient lifestyle, and various other patient-specific factors. There are many benefits to precision medicine such as personalized medications, personalized treatment algorithms, less treatment time due to less trial-and-error, and more.
There are various platforms for precision medicine that can speed up the drug discovery process; one organization developing precision medicine software is HumanFirst. HumanFirst works on designing clinical trials to figure out what biomarkers to look for in order to develop a drug or vaccine for it. They act as a consulting agency to incorporate various technologies into clinical research. They specifically have measured both physiological and behavioral occurrences, most of which were classified in this way for the first time in history.
Another biotechnology company, MapLight, is working on researching solutions and treatments for disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorders, Parkinson’s Disease, and Schizophrenia. One cornerstone of their research is developing therapies using optogenetics, which is a sect of science which maps circuits of the brain in real time. Optogenetics helps scientists observe which electrical signals in the brain are responsible for communication and social interactions. A remarkable feat of theirs, published in renown journal Science, includes their findings of how to define empathy from a physiological viewpoint: they measured empathy by observing the anterior cingulate cortex’s (ACC) inputs to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in the brain. This transfer from the impulses results in a social transfer of behavioral states, specifically pain, which is what is defined as empathy.
With the ability to measure and analyze previously thought to be intangible human emotions, precision medicine opens new avenues for understanding and addressing the complexities of our well-being. By unraveling the intricate connections between biology and emotions, precision medicine brings hope for a future where healthcare is truly personalized and holistic.
Sources: Oxford English Dictionary, Forbes, Science