[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":351},["ShallowReactive",2],{"slug-iceland-and-genomics":3},{"post":4,"relatedPosts":207,"relatedBooks":350},{"id":5,"date":6,"date_gmt":7,"guid":8,"modified":10,"modified_gmt":11,"slug":12,"status":13,"type":14,"link":15,"title":16,"content":18,"excerpt":21,"author":23,"featured_media":24,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":29,"categories":30,"tags":34,"project_category":53,"contact_email_category":54,"yst_prominent_words":55,"class_list":65,"better_featured_image":93,"acf":143,"yoast_meta":151,"_links":154},25242,"2019-11-02T11:00:55","2019-11-02T09:00:55",{"rendered":9},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=25242&_wpnonce=4ad7ac4a38&status=auto-draft&type=post","2023-03-29T11:14:23","2023-03-29T09:14:23","iceland-and-genomics","publish","post","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ficeland-and-genomics",{"rendered":17},"The Nordic Saga: Genomics And Politics In Iceland",{"rendered":19,"protected":20},"\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2019. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd> \u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We guide you to a country where DNA analysis dates back to at least two decades, where Game of Thrones was shot, and where more sheep live than people. To the country of Ice and Fire. In the next stop of our genomics and politics series, let’s see how Iceland, a state with a tiny and homogenous population makes use of genomic data, and how private and public clash over its regulatory issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>To share or\nnot to share?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>In the future, researchers in many countries will be able to reliably identify hundreds of people as carriers of cancer-related genes only by pressing a button. It won’t matter whether those individuals had or didn’t have a genetic test, or whether it was anonymized or not. Although testing establishments use anonymized data, when the DNA of a million people is collected, it will become possible to extrapolate anyone’s personality from the genetic data\u003C\u002Fstrong>. The latest research by \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.com\u002Fstory\u002Fgenome-hackers-show-no-ones-dna-is-anonymous-anymore\u002F\">computational biologist Yaniv Erlich\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fscience.sciencemag.org\u002Flookup\u002Fdoi\u002F10.1126\u002Fscience.aau4832\">published in Science Magazine in October 2018\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fscience.sciencemag.org\u002Flookup\u002Fdoi\u002F10.1126\u002Fscience.aau4832\">stated that\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.com\u002Fstory\u002Fgenome-hackers-show-no-ones-dna-is-anonymous-anymore\u002F\">more than 60 percent of Americans with European ancestry can be identified\u003C\u002Fa> through their DNA using open-access genetic genealogy databases, regardless of whether they’ve ever sent in a spit kit. That’s worrying – and there’s a country where the population already sees the advantages and disadvantages of this happening, sort of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>In Iceland with only around 320,000 people, a\nrelatively uniform population, and extensive DNA databases, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.seattletimes.com\u002Fnation-world\u002Ficeland-faces-a-dna-dilemma-whether-to-notify-people-carrying-cancer-genes\u002F\">the Nordic country could easily pinpoint which of its\npeople are predisposed to certain diseases\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong> and notify them immediately\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Wouldn’t that be a great and wise step in preventing\nillnesses and protecting the population? People with this knowledge could take\nthe necessary steps against getting certain conditions, so that should be an\nexcellent development, right? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Well, in spite of the pressures coming from \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.decode.com\u002F\">deCODE genetics\u003C\u002Fa>, the Icelandic genetics company arguing along the above lines, the government has refused to implement this due to privacy concerns. No one should be notified without explicit consent, says the Icelandic regulator. How did the country with the most lunar landscapes end up here? Why did the governing body make this decision? Might we expect any change here? How could these issues be dealt with in the future? What if the government agrees to notify the citizens about their health risks? Where should the boundaries be drawn: should there be an age limit for notification? Would this only concern certain diseases with a high likelihood or every single one of them? Where should the threshold be put for ‘high’ or ‘low’ risk conditions from this perspective? Many-many questions, but as you will see – not that many responses. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"345\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002FIceland-And-Biotechnology-512x345.png\" alt=\"Iceland and genomics\" class=\"wp-image-25243\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002FIceland-And-Biotechnology-512x345.png 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002FIceland-And-Biotechnology-768x517.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002FIceland-And-Biotechnology-1536x1034.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002FIceland-And-Biotechnology.png 1604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baystbull.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>From the Íslendingabók to the ‘incest alarm’ app\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For understanding the situation in Iceland, let’s go\nback to Ari the Wise and the 12\u003Csup>th\u003C\u002Fsup> century. Relax, we won’t stay long\nthere. The Icelandic priest traced the country’s history, including its family\ntrees, in a tome called Íslendingabók – the book of Icelanders. Since then,\nchurch records and censuses have kept track of births, deaths, and marriages,\nresulting in a detailed and ongoing picture of Icelandic ancestry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>This tradition received a modern makeover in 1996 when Icelandic geneticist Kári Stefánsson founded deCODE Genetics and curated all available genealogical information into a single online database, also called Íslendingabók\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Accessible by anyone with an Icelandic social security number, the database proved popular among members of the public as well as scientists. \u003Cstrong>By the mid-2000s, it was recording more than 1,000 log-ins per day, and in 2013, deCODE launched an app allowing users to determine their relatedness to any other Icelander – complete with an “incest alarm” feature\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002FIslendingabok-512x512.jpeg\" alt=\"Iceland and genomics\" class=\"wp-image-25244\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002FIslendingabok-512x512.jpeg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002FIslendingabok-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002FIslendingabok-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002FIslendingabok.jpeg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.theverge.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Circumventing the authorities and building an\nextensive genetic database\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, deCODE did not settle for genealogical\nrecords: in 2006, it set out to combine this dataset with genetic data and also\nthe health records for all citizens. Their aim was to discover disease genes\nfor everyone on the island. However, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.the-scientist.com\u002Fbio-business\u002Flearning-from-icelands-model-for-genetic-research-31435\">the legislator was on a different opinion: deCODE\nfailed to receive legal approval to use the health records without consent\u003C\u002Fa>. To circumvent the problem, deCODE built a research\ndatabase using DNA and clinical data for more than 120,000 research volunteers.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>By 2015, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.technologyreview.com\u002Fs\u002F536096\u002Fgenome-study-predicts-dna-of-the-whole-of-iceland\u002F\">MIT Review reported\u003C\u002Fa> that DeCode Genetics collected full DNA sequences on 10,000 individuals, and \u003Cstrong>by 2018, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mcclatchydc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fnation-world\u002Farticle213014904.html\">Stefánsson claimed\u003C\u002Fa> the company could access a DNA database of 60,000 fully sequenced individuals and another 180,000 whose genetic code has been partially sequenced.\u003C\u002Fstrong> And since the population in Iceland totals around 320,000 citizens, all relatively closely related, DeCode said it could extrapolate to accurately guess the DNA makeup of nearly the whole population of the country, including those who never participated in its studies. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"256\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002FIceland-And-Genomics-512x256.jpg\" alt=\"Iceland and genomics\" class=\"wp-image-25245\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002FIceland-And-Genomics-512x256.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002FIceland-And-Genomics-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002FIceland-And-Genomics.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.newsweek.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Picking\nfights with the government\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Stefánsson and deCODE genetics are prominent and\npowerful players of the Icelanding genomic research landscape. Although the\ncompany went bankrupt during the Icelandic economic crisis in 2009, it could\nrecover with the help of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.amgen.com\u002F\">Amgen\u003C\u002Fa>, which purchased deCODE in 2012. Over the last six years, deCODE has \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.decode.com\u002Fdecode-genetics-multinational-research-team-find-gene-variant-conferring-high-risk-for-common-late-onset-form-of-alzheimers-disease\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">helped identify among\nothers a gene variant\u003C\u002Fa>\nlinked to late-onset Alzheimer’s and another one that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.decode.com\u002Fa-mutation-discovered-in-iceland-that-increases-risks-of-osteoporosis-and-certain-cancers\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">increases the risk\nof osteoporosis\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>As a pioneer in genomic research, and having a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mcclatchydc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fnation-world\u002Farticle213014904.html\">slashing style and media charisma\u003C\u002Fa>, Stefansson was not tired of pushing forward his agenda in the government. Two years after founding deCODE, Stefansson and others in the company persuaded Iceland’s Parliament to pass the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.researchgate.net\u002Fpublication\u002F24089987_Genome_and_Nation_Iceland's_Health_Sector_Database_and_its_Legacy\">Health Sector Database Act\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>, an effort to create a vast database of Icelanders’ genetic information and medical records, in an encrypted form, for research. The law also allowed a private licensee to control and access this data. Stefansson’s deCODE became that licensee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Under the law, personal data of Icelanders were excluded from the database only if a person asked to opt out. Under normal research protocols, people are only included in a study if they explicitly consent. Later on, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nature.com\u002Farticles\u002F429118b\">a young Icelandic woman went to court challenging the inclusion of her late father’s medical records in the database\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003Cstrong>In 2003, the Supreme Court of the country ruled in favor of her, and the decision practically ended the Health Sector Database – that was the point when deCODE was forced to use other means for data collection, basically based on ‘voluntary’ data transfer from individuals\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Stefánsson \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mcclatchydc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fnation-world\u002Farticle213014904.html\">told McClatchy Magazine last year\u003C\u002Fa> that the company could identify carriers of the BRCA2 gene in the 60,000 Icelanders whose DNA has been fully sequenced, and could extrapolate this data to pinpoint other carriers. But Icelandic regulators have repeatedly refused to let deCODE de-encrypt the data to identify these carriers and notify them. To circumvent this decision, deCODE \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgrapevine.is\u002Fnews\u002F2018\u002F05\u002F15\u002Fnew-website-tells-icelandic-women-of-genetic-mutation-linked-to-cancer\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">started a website\u003C\u002Fa> where people could sign up to be notified if they were carriers of the BRCA2 gene. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FGenetics-And-Law-512x384.jpg\" alt=\"genomics in the US\" class=\"wp-image-25125\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FGenetics-And-Law-512x384.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FGenetics-And-Law-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FGenetics-And-Law.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.wired.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>What might the future bring? \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Thus, \u003Cstrong>the basic dispute is around whether people should be notified about personal health risks that scientists might discover without their explicit consent\u003C\u002Fstrong>. \u003Cstrong>Icelandic regulators have determined that without that explicit consent, neither the government nor private industry can notify people of these risks. In the meantime, deCODE is pushing for a different approach\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Stefansson openly \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mcclatchydc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fnation-world\u002Farticle213014904.html\">raised the question in McClatchy Magazine\u003C\u002Fa> earlier: ‘\u003Cem>there is a tradition in Icelandic society to save people who are in life-threatening situations, without asking them for informed consent. Should there be a different rule if the danger is because of a mutated gene\u003C\u002Fem>?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We believe that \u003Cstrong>the clashing views around the privacy of genetic information as well as the urgency of the intervention for life-saving reasons will appear soon in many other countries as well, not just in Iceland\u003C\u002Fstrong>. We believe that Stefansson’s attitude of pushing forward the inclusion of genetic information into general public opinion as well as his concern for preventive health are more than welcome, but he might be years or decades ahead of legislation. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, the interplay of the private company pushing the boundaries of legislation while the democratic government trying to preserve citizens’ privacy rights upholding it as an ultimate right could bring valuable lessons for other countries and other governments from the U.S. through Scandinavian countries until the UK. Especially keeping in mind that in Britain \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.labiotech.eu\u002Fmedical\u002Ficelandic-company-to-sequence-225000-genomes-from-uk-patients\u002F\">the Icelandic company joined the UK’s Wellcome Sanger Institute\u003C\u002Fa> in September 2019 in sequencing 450,000 genomes as part of a massive project organized by the UK Biobank initiative. Now, we are really curious about how the genetic saga from the North will unfold in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",false,{"rendered":22,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>We guide you to a country where DNA analysis dates back to at least two decades, where Game of Thrones was shot, and where more sheep live than people. To the country of Ice and Fire. In the next stop of our genomics and politics series, let’s see how Iceland, a state with a tiny and homogenous population makes use of genomic data, and how private and public clashes over its regulatory issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",6,25246,"closed",true,"","standard",{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[31,32,33],521,488,799,[35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52],256,926,259,996,260,997,262,1513,425,1533,1534,212,647,213,648,229,246,869,[],[],[56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64],1969,1973,1975,2919,4507,1571,1583,1693,1883,[66,14,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90,91,92],"post-25242","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-future-medicine","category-genomics","category-security-privacy","tag-genes","tag-society","tag-genetic-testing","tag-bioethics","tag-genetics","tag-bioethical","tag-genomics","tag-politics","tag-technology-2","tag-iceland","tag-decode","tag-dna","tag-regulations","tag-dna-testing","tag-government","tag-ethics","tag-future","tag-regulation",{"id":24,"alt_text":94,"caption":27,"description":95,"media_type":96,"media_details":97,"post":5,"source_url":142},"Iceland and genomics TMF","TMF, Iceland, data, map, ","image",{"width":98,"height":99,"file":100,"sizes":101,"image_meta":139},1920,1080,"2019\u002F11\u002F118_Genomics-and-politics-in-Iceland.png",{"medium":102,"large":108,"thumbnail":113,"medium_large":117,"1536x1536":118,"large_old_512x288":123,"thumbnail_old_150x150":128,"medium_old_370x208":130,"medium_large_old_768x432":133,"large_old_512x288_old_512x288":136},{"file":103,"width":104,"height":105,"mime-type":106,"source_url":107},"118_Genomics-and-politics-in-Iceland-370x208.png",370,208,"image\u002Fpng","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F118_Genomics-and-politics-in-Iceland-370x208.png",{"file":109,"width":110,"height":111,"mime-type":106,"source_url":112},"118_Genomics-and-politics-in-Iceland-768x432.png",768,432,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F118_Genomics-and-politics-in-Iceland-768x432.png",{"file":114,"width":115,"height":115,"mime-type":106,"source_url":116},"118_Genomics-and-politics-in-Iceland-150x150.png",150,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F118_Genomics-and-politics-in-Iceland-150x150.png",{"file":109,"width":110,"height":111,"mime-type":106,"source_url":112},{"file":119,"width":120,"height":121,"mime-type":106,"source_url":122},"118_Genomics-and-politics-in-Iceland-1536x864.png",1536,864,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F118_Genomics-and-politics-in-Iceland-1536x864.png",{"file":124,"width":125,"height":126,"mime-type":106,"source_url":127},"118_Genomics-and-politics-in-Iceland-512x288.png",512,288,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F118_Genomics-and-politics-in-Iceland-512x288.png",{"file":114,"width":129,"height":129,"mime-type":106,"source_url":116},"150",{"file":103,"width":131,"height":132,"mime-type":106,"source_url":107},"370","208",{"file":109,"width":134,"height":135,"mime-type":106,"source_url":112},"768","432",{"file":124,"width":137,"height":138,"mime-type":106,"source_url":127},"512","288",{"aperture":140,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":140,"copyright":27,"focal_length":140,"iso":140,"shutter_speed":140,"title":27,"orientation":140,"keywords":141},"0",[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F118_Genomics-and-politics-in-Iceland.png",{"related_posts_footer":144,"related_posts":20,"cta_type":149,"cta_color":150,"subtitle":27,"related_books":20},[145,146,147,148],24944,25122,22209,22156,"keynote","red",{"yoast_wpseo_title":152,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":153,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":15},"The Nordic Saga: Genomics And Politics In Iceland - The Medical Futurist","Let’s see how Iceland, a state with a homogenous population makes use of genomic data, and how private and public clashes over its regulatory issues.",{"self":155,"collection":161,"about":164,"author":167,"replies":170,"version-history":173,"predecessor-version":177,"wp:featuredmedia":181,"wp:attachment":184,"wp:term":187,"curies":203},[156],{"href":157,"targetHints":158},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F25242",{"allow":159},[160],"GET",[162],{"href":163},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts",[165],{"href":166},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fpost",[168],{"embeddable":26,"href":169},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F6",[171],{"embeddable":26,"href":172},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=25242",[174],{"count":175,"href":176},7,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F25242\u002Frevisions",[178],{"id":179,"href":180},50357,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F25242\u002Frevisions\u002F50357",[182],{"embeddable":26,"href":183},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F25246",[185],{"href":186},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=25242",[188,191,194,197,200],{"taxonomy":189,"embeddable":26,"href":190},"category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=25242",{"taxonomy":192,"embeddable":26,"href":193},"post_tag","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=25242",{"taxonomy":195,"embeddable":26,"href":196},"project_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=25242",{"taxonomy":198,"embeddable":26,"href":199},"contact_email_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=25242",{"taxonomy":201,"embeddable":26,"href":202},"yst_prominent_words","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=25242",[204],{"name":205,"href":206,"templated":26},"wp","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.w.org\u002F{rel}",[208],{"id":148,"date":209,"date_gmt":210,"guid":211,"modified":213,"modified_gmt":214,"slug":215,"status":13,"type":14,"link":216,"title":217,"content":219,"excerpt":221,"author":23,"featured_media":223,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":224,"categories":225,"tags":228,"project_category":238,"contact_email_category":239,"yst_prominent_words":240,"class_list":251,"better_featured_image":264,"acf":296,"yoast_meta":305,"_links":308},"2018-10-20T11:18:56","2018-10-20T09:18:56",{"rendered":212},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F","2022-05-31T14:55:28","2022-05-31T12:55:28","how-could-genomics-bring-precision-medicine-to-healthcare","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fhow-could-genomics-bring-precision-medicine-to-healthcare",{"rendered":218},"How Could Genomics Bring Precision Medicine To Healthcare?",{"rendered":220,"protected":20},"\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2018. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>By 2025, between 100 million and 2 billion human genomes will have been sequenced, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nature.com\u002Fnews\u002Fgenome-researchers-raise-alarm-over-big-data-1.17912#\u002Fb1\">researchers said\u003C\u002Fa>. What do medical research, companies or governments do with such an incredible amount of data? How could genomics bring DNA-based targeted treatments, personalized drugs, and individualized clinical methods, in other words, precision medicine to healthcare?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003C!--more-->\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Does disease categorize people?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In the previous centuries, healthcare systems focused mainly on working out generalized solutions for treating ill people in as high numbers as possible. If cough syrup was good for the majority of the coughing masses and only two people had a rash as an allergic reaction to it, there would be no question about treating a sore throat with cough syrup. Experience and empirical evidence on a generalized basis were the working method of the medical community since Hippocrates until around the beginning of the 20\u003Csup>th\u003C\u002Fsup> century.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Evidence-based medicine turned around the practice of relying on the wisdom of past doctors and traditions. As a consequence, nowadays physicians not only prescribe some pills because their ancestors used to do the same, but they proved the efficacy of treatments and diagnostic methods with the help of scientific tools, e.g., clinical studies. Research evidence and practical experience show why a sore throat is best treated with cough syrup, what are the side effects and how that could also be treated or avoided. Moreover, these pieces of evidence and experience are collected \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.uptodate.com\u002Fcontents\u002Foverview-of-clinical-practice-guidelines\">in clinical practice guidelines\u003C\u002Fa> – for every condition and every clinician. These guidelines are regularly updated as the latest studies and\u002For the results of clinical trials get published.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>So far, \u003Cstrong>the working method has been viable, however, with the rise of personal genomics as well as other tools of precision medicine, a major flaw of the system came to light. Instead of putting individual patients in the center, generalized diseases take center-stage in healthcare. Conditions categorize people and not personal characteristics influence treatments\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Patients usually receive care that is generally appropriate according to the guidelines. Existing technologies and the system enable this working method (which in many cases works just fine) – but personal genomics opens the door to another era by putting the patient and not the disease to the heart of healthcare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22157\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"653\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FPatient-As-Disease.jpg\" alt=\"genomics\" class=\"wp-image-22157\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FPatient-As-Disease.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FPatient-As-Disease-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FPatient-As-Disease-512x384.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.steelcase.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The rise of genome sequencing\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The completion of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Funlockinglifescode.org\u002F\">Human Genome Project\u003C\u002Fa> was a watershed in the development of medicine and healthcare. In the last fifteen years following the success of the quest to sequence all 3 billion letters or base pairs in the human genome, the cost of sequencing started to free-fall, the access to testing has been multiplying day-by-day, the arsenal of sequencing technology widened spectacularly and new research fields appeared from thin air – such as pharmacogenomics or nutrigenomics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While the Human Genome Project cost approximately $2.7 billion for the US government, you can currently order your whole genome sequence online for about $400-500! By now, there are more than 2,000 genetic tests for human conditions – and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwhich-direct-to-consumer-genetic-test-to-choose\">direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies make it even possible to order them online\u003C\u002Fa>. These tests enable patients to learn their genetic risks for disease and also help healthcare professionals to diagnose illness. Consumer companies like 23andMe and Ancestry have so far created genetic profiles for more than 12 million people, according to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.technologyreview.com\u002Fs\u002F610233\u002F2017-was-the-year-consumer-dna-testing-blew-up\u002F\">recent industry estimates\u003C\u002Fa>. Moreover, according to the latest research led by \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.com\u002Fstory\u002Fgenome-hackers-show-no-ones-dna-is-anonymous-anymore\u002F\">computational biologist Yaniv Erlich\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fscience.sciencemag.org\u002Flookup\u002Fdoi\u002F10.1126\u002Fscience.aau4832\">published in October 2018 in Science Magazine\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.com\u002Fstory\u002Fgenome-hackers-show-no-ones-dna-is-anonymous-anymore\u002F\">more than 60 percent of Americans with European ancestry can be identified\u003C\u002Fa> through their DNA using open access genetic genealogy databases, regardless of whether they’ve ever sent in a spit kit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Automated high-throughput sequencers appeared on the market, gradually decreasing in size while reducing the time necessary for sequencing. For example, in January 2017, DNA sequencing giant \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.illumina.com\u002Fsystems\u002Fsequencing-platforms\u002Fnovaseq\u002Fintroduction.html#.WHVn1LYrKqA\">Illumina\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftechcrunch.com\u002F2017\u002F01\u002F10\u002Fillumina-wants-to-sequence-your-whole-genome-for-100\u002F\">unveiled a new machine\u003C\u002Fa> that the company says is “expected one day” to order up your whole genome for less than $100. It would mean that you might have a cheaper genetic test than a general blood test. The UK-based start-up, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnanoporetech.com\u002F\">Oxford Nanopore Technologies\u003C\u002Fa> offer real-time, out-of-the-lab DNA and RNA sequencing with their \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnanoporetech.com\u002Fproducts\u002Fminion\">MinION\u003C\u002Fa> device. It enabled researchers to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnanoporetech.com\u002Fpublications\u002Freal-time-dna-sequencing-antarctic-dry-valleys-using-oxford-nanopore-sequencer\">carry out offline DNA sequencing of environmental samples on Antarctica\u003C\u002Fa> using only a hand-held device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22158\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FSequencing-Real-Time.jpg\" alt=\"genomics\" class=\"wp-image-22158\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FSequencing-Real-Time.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FSequencing-Real-Time-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FSequencing-Real-Time-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FSequencing-Real-Time-512x288.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Sequencing DNA (or RNA) | Real-time, Ultra Long-Reads, Scalable Technology from Oxford Nanopore. Source: www.youtube.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>What’s next on the frontier of genome sequencing research?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Human Genome Project has already fueled the discovery of more than 1,800 disease genes, but scientists are doubling down on the efforts. The ambitious US-powered initiative, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fcancergenome.nih.gov\u002F\">The Cancer Genome Atlas\u003C\u002Fa> aims to identify all the genetic abnormalities seen in 50 major types of cancer, just as the EU-funded Cancer genome project supports cancer research. The \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.roadmapepigenomics.org\u002F\">Roadmap Epigenomics Project\u003C\u002Fa> is mapping DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin accessibility and small RNA transcripts in the human genome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In the UK, GlaxoSmithKline, Roche, AstraZeneca, Biogen, AbbVie and others are reportedly working with Genomics England on their project to \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.genomicsengland.co.uk\u002Fthe-100000-genomes-project\u002F\">sequence 100,000 genomes\u003C\u002Fa> from 70,000 NHS patients with rare diseases and cancer. Both \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.forbes.com\u002Fsites\u002Fmatthewherper\u002F2015\u002F01\u002F06\u002Fsurprise-with-60-million-genentech-deal-23andme-has-a-business-plan\u002F\">Roche and Pfizer have agreed on deals with 23andMe\u003C\u002Fa> to access their community of patients with Parkinson’s and Crohn’s respectively, to look for genetic clues to their causes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In addition, in 2011 the Chinese research company, BGI, announced that it would sequence a million human genomes, a million plant and animal genomes and a million micro-ecosystems. Although it may take a few more years to reach the “million goals”, the list of current BGI’s collaborative sequencing projects looks impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22159\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"652\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FGenome-Sequencing.jpg\" alt=\"genomics\" class=\"wp-image-22159\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FGenome-Sequencing.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FGenome-Sequencing-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FGenome-Sequencing-512x384.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.wired.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Where are industry players heading?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Start-ups, ventures, and innovative solutions spring up day by day with a new generation of targeted interventions based on genomic analysis for a wide variety of diseases – being more efficient and causing fewer side effects than some treatments available today. In 2014, eight of the 41 new drugs \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fblogs.fda.gov\u002Ffdavoice\u002Findex.php\u002F2015\u002F03\u002Ffda-continues-to-lead-in-precision-medicine\u002F\">approved by the FDA\u003C\u002Fa> were targeted therapies. These include \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.proclinical.com\u002Fpharma-companies-cancer-cure-is-not-beyond-us\">cancer drugs\u003C\u002Fa> as well as other \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.proclinical.com\u002Fwhy-work-in-r-and-d-for-rare-diseases-and-orphan-drugs\">treatments for rare diseases\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fprecision-medicine-best-hope-fight-cancer\">field of cancer research\u003C\u002Fa>, you can send your biopsy sample from the primer tumor tissue to a company for analysis. They extract the DNA of cancer cells, sequence its code and try to find mutations for which there are available clinical trials and treatments. Genome sequencing giant, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.illumina.com\u002Fareas-of-interest\u002Fcancer\u002Fresearch\u002Fsequencing-methods\u002Ftargeted-cancer-seq.html\">Illumina offers\u003C\u002Fa> the examination of known mutations in cancer-related genes to reduce the costs of treatment and do complete studies more quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Swiss company \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.oncompassmedicine.com\u002F\">Oncompass\u003C\u002Fa> offers oncological biopsy analysis to provide better, personalized treatment plans for each cancer patient. Boston-based \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.veritasgenetics.com\u002F\">Veritas Genetics\u003C\u002Fa> offers \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.genomeweb.com\u002Fsequencing-technology\u002F999-whole-genome-sequencing-service-veritas-embarks-goal-democratize-dna\">whole genome sequencing, interpretation and genetic counseling for $999 for anyone\u003C\u002Fa>. They also have the $299 myBRCA HiRisk test on the market, which gauges 26 genes associated with a heightened predisposition for breast, ovarian and other associated cancers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22161\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"609\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FGenome-Sequencing_1.jpg\" alt=\"genomics\" class=\"wp-image-22161\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FGenome-Sequencing_1.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FGenome-Sequencing_1-768x538.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FGenome-Sequencing_1-512x358.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>www.genengnews.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Governments\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong> at the forefront of genomics?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Not only the research field and the market is buzzing around genomics and genome sequencing, but certain states also recognized the potential of the technology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In April 2018, news outlets surfaced that one of the biggest state in India, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Frise-in-population-genomics-local-government-in-india-will-use-blockchain-to-secure-genetic-data\">Andhra Pradesh, will secure the DNA base of 50 million citizens through the blockchain\u003C\u002Fa>. On 20 March 2018, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffuturism.com\u002Fgenetic-testing-estonia\u002F\">Estonia launched the first stage of a national state-sponsored genetic testing and information service\u003C\u002Fa> providing 100,000 of its 1.3 million residents with information on their genetic risk for certain diseases. Already in 2015, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.technologyreview.com\u002Fs\u002F536096\u002Fgenome-study-predicts-dna-of-the-whole-of-iceland\u002F\">MIT Review reported\u003C\u002Fa> that a genetics company in Iceland named DeCode Genetics collected full DNA sequences on 10,000 individuals. And since the population in Iceland totals around 320,000 citizens, and they are fairly closely related, DeCode said it could extrapolate to accurately guess the DNA makeup of nearly the whole population of the country, including those who never participated in its studies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>How to make use of personal genomics’ full potential?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It seems that from government initiatives through the activities of start-ups until the missions of groundbreaking research projects, the ultimate goal of genome sequencing is to help bring healthcare into the era of preventive, personalized and preemptive medicine. The supporters of genome sequencing are not alone in their undertaking to introduce tools of precision medicine in healthcare. Home sensors, portable diagnostic devices or digital biomarkers all aim to level up the process of care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, it is unimaginably difficult to bring the achievements of the latest studies or the innovative solutions of start-ups in the hospitals. Not to say how arduous it is to analyze such incredible amounts of data, how problematic it is to turn the results of genomic research into evidence – to be used as new guidelines for clinicians, and so forth. Moreover, the widening access to genome sequencing introduces the patient as a potential source who brings sequenced genomic data to healthcare facilities. Although that’s an excellent achievement in itself: the arrival of empowered, actively engaged patients, but as praiseworthy as it is, another problem arises with it: how will doctors know if the information brought about by the patient is reliable?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22162\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FGenome-Sequencing_2.jpg\" alt=\"genomics\" class=\"wp-image-22162\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FGenome-Sequencing_2.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FGenome-Sequencing_2-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FGenome-Sequencing_2-512x307.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.mja.com.au\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Short-term recommendations for bringing genomics-based precision medicine closer \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These questions require careful consideration and urgent response from healthcare professionals, medical facilities as well as regulators and policy-makers since genome sequencing and precision medicine are knocking on our doors louder than ever – especially due to the efforts of grass root actors, such as tech companies or patients. The Medical Futurist believes that the following steps could help ease the burden in the short-term and support the introduction of genomics-based precision medicine in the healthcare ecosystem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>1) Lowering the price of genome sequencing\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Industry efforts coupled with political initiatives are attempting to bring down the cost of genome sequencing way below $1,000. If the price of whole-genome sequencing were somewhere around that of a blood test, that would be the most effective way to bring the new technology into the hospitals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>2) Using the power of artificial narrow intelligence \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Tech giants, such as IBM, Google, and Microsoft, as well as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ftop-artificial-intelligence-companies-in-healthcare\u002F\">a series of start-up,\u003C\u002Fa> such as the Hungarian \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fturbine.ai\u002F\">Turbine\u003C\u002Fa>, already leverage on the power of artificial intelligence in cancer research. They are building artificial intelligence solutions to design personalized treatments for any cancer type or patient faster than any traditional healthcare service. In case of IBM, they launched \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ibm.com\u002Fwatson\u002Fhealth\u002Foncology\u002F\">Watson for Oncology\u003C\u002Fa>; Google has its \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdeepmind.com\u002Fhealth\u002Fresearch\">Deepmind Health\u003C\u002Fa> project; while \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bloomberg.com\u002Fnews\u002Farticles\u002F2016-09-20\u002Fmicrosoft-develops-ai-to-help-cancer-doctors-find-the-right-treatments\">Microsoft’s research machine-learning project, dubbed Hanover\u003C\u002Fa>, aims to ingest all the papers and help predict which drugs and which combinations are the most effective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, A.I. could also be used in genomics research for building databases, finding the appropriate studies for a specific case in seconds and recommending the best targeted treatment based on the given individual’s whole genome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>3) Creating inclusive guidelines\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Medical associations should show some openness when creating and updating the latest guidelines – the most important recommendations for clinicians. They should, in fact, include genomic data – moreover, all OMICS-data such as proteomics, epigenomics or lipidomics – as the future points towards their increased utilization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>4) The GDPR of Genomics? – Regulation of DTC genetic testing\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>At the moment, there are hundreds of companies around the world offering their genetic testing kits online. Some are available in the US, others in the EU, but due to a globalized economy, shipping services and the wonder called the Internet, testing kits could arrive at every corner of the world within a reasonable amount of time. Thus, regulators should come up with a unified regulatory framework for DTC genetic testing – the GDPR of genomics, if you wish – to ensure the reliability of the products and companies alongside with clear genomic data protection policies. In such a way, patients could walk into the office of their doctor with a lighter heart saying that here’s my genomic data, suggest to me a targeted treatment if such a therapy is available.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":222,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>By 2025, between 100 million and 2 billion human genomes will have been sequenced, researchers said. What do medical research, companies or governments do with such an incredible amount of data? How could genomics bring DNA-based targeted treatments, personalized drugs, and individualized clinical methods, in other words, precision medicine to healthcare?\u003C\u002Fp>\n",22164,{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[226,32,227],500,800,[229,230,231,232,51,43,233,35,37,234,39,235,236,237,41],271,275,289,361,253,608,655,261,694,[],[],[241,242,243,64,56,244,245,246,247,248,249,250],1683,3585,1709,2043,2045,2063,2657,2921,3023,3031,[252,14,67,68,69,70,71,253,73,254,255,256,257,258,91,83,259,75,77,260,79,261,262,263,81],"post-22156","category-biotechnology","category-healthcare-policy","tag-health","tag-healthcare","tag-innovation","tag-prediction","tag-gene","tag-precision-medicine","tag-genome-sequencing","tag-genome","tag-personal-genomics",{"id":223,"alt_text":27,"caption":265,"description":27,"media_type":96,"media_details":266,"post":148,"source_url":295},"Source: www.explainingdna.com",{"width":267,"height":268,"file":269,"sizes":270,"image_meta":293},870,479,"2018\u002F10\u002FWhat-Is-DNA.jpg",{"medium":271,"large":275,"thumbnail":279,"medium_large":282,"large_old_512x282":283,"thumbnail_old_150x150":287,"medium_old_370x208":288,"medium_large_old_768x423":289,"large_old_512x282_old_512x282":291},{"file":272,"width":104,"height":105,"mime-type":273,"source_url":274},"What-Is-DNA-370x208.jpg","image\u002Fjpeg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FWhat-Is-DNA-370x208.jpg",{"file":276,"width":110,"height":277,"mime-type":273,"source_url":278},"What-Is-DNA-768x423.jpg",423,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FWhat-Is-DNA-768x423.jpg",{"file":280,"width":115,"height":115,"mime-type":273,"source_url":281},"What-Is-DNA-150x150.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FWhat-Is-DNA-150x150.jpg",{"file":276,"width":110,"height":277,"mime-type":273,"source_url":278},{"file":284,"width":125,"height":285,"mime-type":273,"source_url":286},"What-Is-DNA-512x282.jpg",282,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FWhat-Is-DNA-512x282.jpg",{"file":280,"width":129,"height":129,"mime-type":273,"source_url":281},{"file":272,"width":131,"height":132,"mime-type":273,"source_url":274},{"file":276,"width":134,"height":290,"mime-type":273,"source_url":278},"423",{"file":284,"width":137,"height":292,"mime-type":273,"source_url":286},"282",{"aperture":140,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":140,"copyright":27,"focal_length":140,"iso":140,"shutter_speed":140,"title":27,"orientation":140,"keywords":294},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FWhat-Is-DNA.jpg",{"related_posts":297,"related_posts_footer":301,"cta_type":27,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_books":20},[298,299,300],17644,15713,21392,[302,303,304],15120,14102,16209,{"yoast_wpseo_title":306,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":307,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":216},"How Could Genomics Bring Precision Medicine To Healthcare? - The Medical Futurist","How could genomics bring DNA-based targeted treatments or personalized drugs, in other words, precision medicine to healthcare?",{"self":309,"collection":314,"about":316,"author":318,"replies":320,"version-history":323,"predecessor-version":327,"wp:featuredmedia":331,"wp:attachment":334,"wp:term":337,"curies":348},[310],{"href":311,"targetHints":312},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F22156",{"allow":313},[160],[315],{"href":163},[317],{"href":166},[319],{"embeddable":26,"href":169},[321],{"embeddable":26,"href":322},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=22156",[324],{"count":325,"href":326},23,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F22156\u002Frevisions",[328],{"id":329,"href":330},46577,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F22156\u002Frevisions\u002F46577",[332],{"embeddable":26,"href":333},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F22164",[335],{"href":336},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=22156",[338,340,342,344,346],{"taxonomy":189,"embeddable":26,"href":339},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=22156",{"taxonomy":192,"embeddable":26,"href":341},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=22156",{"taxonomy":195,"embeddable":26,"href":343},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=22156",{"taxonomy":198,"embeddable":26,"href":345},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=22156",{"taxonomy":201,"embeddable":26,"href":347},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=22156",[349],{"name":205,"href":206,"templated":26},[],1790069801584]