The re-emerging concept of personalized healthcare

Abstract

Personalized healthcare has regained momentum through the unprecedented surge of research in the genomics field and related areas of biology. These new insights compel the optimization of healthcare and therapy for individual subjects. While the potential benefits are large, substantial obstacles need to be overcome for attaining clinical utility in general medial practice. These range from scientific hurdles emerging from biological and genetic complexity, to cultural, economic, legal, regulatory and ethical issues. This article addresses, in broad strokes, these intercalated issues, discussing recent advances, remaining questions and how to move forward. It also highlights recent developments at academic centers devoted to promoting personalized healthcare as an avenue with great potential for improving our healthcare system.

Keywords: ADR; BRC1/2; CYP2C9; Her2/Neu; SNP; VKORC1; adverse drug reaction; genetic testing; personalized healthcare; personalized medicine; pharmacogenomics.