PREDICTIVE MEDICINE

the Opportunity/or the Future

Ragnar Content 2

GENOMICS TO PREDICT AND PREVENT DISEASE

Globally the genomics market is increasing by approximately 19% CAGR. By 2027 it is estimated that 75% of cancer diagnoses in the US will utilize some form of genomic analysis. As a result, the precision medicine market is predicted to be worth around $176.5 billion USD within the next seven years.

To deliver precision medicine, both healthcare organizations and research institutes need an easy way to secure, interrogate and manage genomic data. Existing solutions cannot do this and EHRs are not compatible with genomic data sets.

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations, 2018) forms part of current EU and UK law.  It governs the processing of personal data of all EU citizens and has significant global impact. Ever since its introduction, the genomics community have raised concerns: how exactly does the concept of ‘personal data’ apply to genomics, and what does the regulation mean for research and healthcare?  Issues with the processing of genomic data in healthcare and medical research are still being worked out.

Developing appropriate standards for genomic data processing under GDPR has the potential to have a positive impact on genomics: reassuring data subjects and patients that their rights to privacy and data protection are safeguarded at the same time as facilitating ethical and lawful uses of genomic data.

One of the main debates relates to how identifiable ‘de-identified genomic data’ could be and therefore whether it can be defined as ‘personal data’ if it were processed in large datasets.

Globally the genomics market is increasing by approximately 19% CAGR. By 2027 it is estimated that 75% of cancer diagnoses in the US will utilize some form of genomic analysis. As a result, the precision medicine market is predicted to be worth around $176.5 billion USD within the next seven years.

To deliver precision medicine, both healthcare organizations and research institutes need an easy way to secure, interrogate and manage genomic data. Existing solutions cannot do this and EHRs are not compatible with genomic data sets.

Genomics can help predict and prevent disease. Genomics is the study of an organism’s complete genetic material, including all of its genes and DNA sequences. With the advancements in genomics, scientists can now analyze and interpret vast amounts of genetic information and identify specific genetic variations that increase an individual’s risk of developing certain diseases.

By using genomic information, healthcare professionals can predict the likelihood of developing certain diseases and take preventative measures to reduce the risk. For example, if a person has a high risk of developing heart disease due to their genetic makeup, healthcare professionals can suggest lifestyle changes, such as adopting a healthy diet and exercise regimen, to lower their risk.

Additionally, genomics can help with early disease detection. Certain genetic variations can predispose individuals to specific diseases. By identifying these genetic variations early on, healthcare professionals can provide proactive and personalized care to reduce the risk of disease development.

In summary, genomics has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by predicting disease risk and allowing for personalized prevention strategies, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.