Toward the Next Generation of Precision Medicine

Abstract

The goal of precision medicine is to develop individualized preventative, predictive, diagnostic, and treatment options that focus on treating a patient with a disease rather than simply curing the disease. The distinction between patient- and disease-focused approaches to healthcare are often contrasted, but both are necessary to develop the next generation of precision medicine. Disease-focused research establishes the standard course of illness, while research into the heterogeneity in onset and treatment responses allows healthcare professionals to tailor treatments to each individual patient. This ambitious objective has evolved over the past two decades and has been influential in treating patients with some types of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and prenatal screenings. The next generation of precision medicine must integrate genetic, behavioral, and social determinants of health to address individual needs across a broad range of medical conditions. This will require coordinated efforts from multiple stakeholders: researchers, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, and patients.