Precision medicine, also known as personalised medicine, is changing how we manage our healthcare. Instead of using the same treatment for everyone, this personalised medicine adapts treatments to each of us based on unique genetic and molecular factors. Three key areas where personalised medicine is making a big difference are in drug therapy (pharmacogenomics), allergy testing, and cancer.
Pharmacogenomics: Matching Medicines to Your Genes
Pharmacogenomics looks at how your genes affect the way your body processes medications. Not everyone responds to drugs the same way. Some people might need higher doses for a drug to work, while others may experience side effects with even small amounts.
For example, certain genes in our DNA influence how your body breaks down drugs like warfarin (a blood thinner) or antidepressants. With pharmacogenomic testing, doctors can check your genetic profile and select an appropriate medication and dose for you. This approach avoids guesswork, reduces side effects, and helps medications work better for you.
Molecular Allergy Testing: Pinpointing Allergy Triggers
Allergy testing is becoming more precise with molecular allergy testing. Traditional tests look at your reaction to whole allergens, like peanuts or pollen, but these can contain many different proteins. Molecular allergy testing goes a step further by identifying the specific proteins that trigger your allergies.
For example, if you’re allergic to peanuts, molecular testing can tell if you’re reacting to a dangerous protein like Ara h 2 or a milder one. This helps doctors create a more accurate treatment plan, like advising you on what to avoid or whether you need to carry an epinephrine injector. It also makes immunotherapy (allergy shots) more targeted, gradually helping your body tolerate the specific proteins you’re allergic to.
Cancer Treatment: Targeting the Disease More Precisely
Cancer treatment has changed dramatically with personalised medicine. In the past, treatments like chemotherapy attacked both cancerous and healthy cells, leading to many side effects. Now, precision cancer care focuses on the unique features of a patient’s tumour.
For example, some lung cancer patients have a fault in a gene called EGFR. Doctors can prescribe drugs that specifically target this gene fault, making treatment more effective and reducing harm to healthy cells. Similarly, breast cancer patients with HER2-positive tumours can benefit from specific therapies designed for that type of cancer.
New tools like liquid biopsies, which analyse bits of tumour DNA in a blood sample, are also helping doctors monitor how a cancer is responding to treatment. This allows them to adjust treatments quickly if needed. Immunotherapy, which uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer, is another breakthrough guided by biomarkers to ensure it works for the right patients.
Source: Created by Claire Davis; reprinted with permission from Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
The Future of Healthcare
Personalised medicine is changing how we manage our health by focusing more on our individual make up. From the medications we take, to allergy management and cancer treatment, this approach is improving outcomes and reducing side effects. As science and technology advance, personalised medicine is becoming the future of healthcare, offering safer and more effective treatments tailored to each of us.
It’s nearly that time again! Mince pies and hot chocolate. But for lots of us these treats can cause anything from mild digestive problems to severe reactions. Learn more about the difference between food allergies, intolerances and coeliac disease.
In the UK about 10,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year. The main symptom is blood in the urine which involves an invasive hospital procedure to look inside the bladder. A new non-invasive test could be the answer.
Discovering your biological DNA relatives offers many benefits that extend beyond mere curiosity. It can bring clarity, closure, and a renewed sense of identity, allowing us to move forward with confidence.
With up to a third of the UK population suffering allergy symptoms to their furry friends it is essential to get a complete diagnosis, identify the cause, and help you live in harmony with your pet.
Forensic Genomics Innovation Hub
Laboratory 12
Southampton Science Park
1 Venture Road
Southampton
SO16 7NP
United Kingdom
Email: lab@fgih.co.uk
Phone: (+44) 02380118980
