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The advent of genomic science and technology has enabled the marking of the entire human genome. So far, thousands of genes have been identified and stored in a well secured data base; and the use of data is strictly regulated. It has been discovered that people living in various locations and nationalities have different genetic compositions. In the pharmaceutical science, it has been reported that different individuals handle drugs differently due to differences in genetic make ups. This accounts for the reason why some drugs are beneficial to some people, but harmful to others, thus the quest for individualized medicine. The current concept of reference range in the clinical laboratory setting is dependent on several factors which also vary from region to region. Drugs elicit different responses and effects in different populations due to differences in metabolic processes , environmental condition and genetic makeups. With the advent of individualized medicine, there is no doubt that for proper monitoring of the therapeutic and adverse effects of the drug in different individuals, the concept of personalized laboratory testing will also be very beneficial. How do you see this idea becoming real? Please share your thoughts.
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AUGUSTINE ONYEAGHALA - Senior Contributor
22 Jul 2014
What an innovative idea and discovery. This study should be taken to the next phase of translational research. No doubt, as long as individualized medicine is the way to go these, the need to pursue individualized laboratory testing becomes just fingers away.
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Karla Lam
22 Jul 2014
A recent review in The EMBO Journal outlines the opportunities and impact associated with the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology on future, personalized medicine.
The authors talk about new iPSC‐based medicine including iPSC clinical trials, where iPSCs from patients can be used to predict drug responders/non‐responders by analyzing the efficacy of the drug on iPSC‐derived cells (personalized laboratory testing), among other uses.
You can access the review here: https://globalhealthlaboratories.tghn.org/articles/ips-cells-game-changer-future-medicine/ .
Do you think these advances in iPSC technology will help/push the development of personalized laboratory testing or do you think such concept is still a distant reality?