Personalized Medicine
There is a big change coming in the healthcare industry. It is called Personalized Medicine and it is changing the way you receive healthcare. Here at the University of Utah, we are poised to play an important role in this developing field of medicine.
For most of this century, the practice of medicine has been based on what are called Standards of Care. These standards are developed over years of research, trials, and practice. When you go to the doctor, your treatment is based on what has proven effective for the population in general. But in certain circumstances you might not respond in the same way as the general population. Personalized Medicine allows healthcare professionals to customize your treatment for what works best for you.
Personalized Medicine is about focusing on you and your unique healthcare needs. It uses new methods of molecular and environmental analysis to better manage your health, considering your health conditions, your disease, and even your predisposition to disease before treatment. After analysis, treatments are then customized for you. This means your physician can treat you with greater precision, fewer side effects, and with better results.
Take for example molecular testing in use today that identifies which breast cancer and colon cancer patients can likely benefit from the newest treatments—treatments that are not right for everyone. There is also a genetic test for patients with an inherited cardiac condition that helps physicians determine which course of hypertension treatment will avoid serious side effects. (Source: www.personalizedmedicinecoalition.org) While the applications are limited at this early stage, there is great potential in what Personalized Medicine can do for patients, physicians, and healthcare overall.
The University of Utah Health Sciences Center has put special emphasis on discovering and implementing new applications for Personalized Medicine. This will enhance the patient experience, reduce side effects, and optimize treatment outcomes. Consider being a part of this tremendous initiative. It is a generous investment that will benefit patients today and for generations to come.
For more information on how your gifts can support Personalized Medicine at the University of Utah, please contact Steve Warner, associate vice president for Health Sciences, at (801) 585-7010 or stephen.warner@hsc.utah.edu.
Make a gift to support Personalized Medicine.
