InfoSearched
Published -
- January 1, 2019
- 1:28 pm
Last year, we saw the rise of a mysterious polio-like illness affecting dozens of children around the U.S.
And the work of a Chinese scientist led to serious ethical questions about gene editing. Medical breakthroughs like health devices you can wear and 3-D printing show the increasing power of technology in healthcare. Dr. Tara Narula joins “CBS This Morning” for a look at the medical stories that will affect our lives in 2019.
What are the benefits of personalized medicine, and how could genetic testing lead to more effective drug therapies and disease prevention in 2019?
As the world of medicine continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, several medical breakthroughs are expected to emerge in the year 2019. These milestones are set to bring hope, relief, and treatment to patients with various medical problems. From cancer therapies to gene editing and personalized medicine, the following are medical breakthroughs to watch for in 2019.
Firstly, cancer therapy involves the use of drugs that enhance one’s immune system, thereby offering new hope to cancer patients. Advances in cancer therapy in 2019 are expected to take two forms- CAR-T cell therapy and PD-1 blockers. CAR-T cell therapy is a treatment strategy that involves the modification of a patient’s immune cells, T cells, to recognize and destroy cancer cells. On the other hand, PD-1 blockers are drugs that block proteins in cancer cells, thereby enabling the patient’s immune system to fight cancer cells.
Secondly, gene editing aims to treat inherited genetic disorders. The emergence of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system in 2012 has opened up a new frontier for medical research. This year, gene editing technology is expected to treat inherited diseases such as sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis, among others. Gene editing will also have applications in cancer therapy, allowing researchers to modify immune cells to become more efficient at combating cancer cells.
Thirdly, personalized medicine emphasizes the tailoring of medical treatment to an individual’s specific needs based on genetic testing. This approach implies that medical treatments are more effective and have fewer side effects since they target exact areas of the patient’s genes or cells. Thus, 2019 is anticipated to witness a significant percentage of people opting for genetic testing, leading to personalized drug therapies, prevention, and disease management.
Lastly, telemedicine is an emerging field of medicine that promises to revolutionize the way healthcare is delivered. Telemedicine allows patients to communicate with doctors using telecommunication technologies, such as video conferencing, online messaging services, or remotely monitoring medical conditions. Hence, 2019 is predicted to witness a significant expansion of high-tech medical platforms, enabling doctors to reach more patients at once, enhancing the quality of care and reducing medical costs.
In conclusion, the year 2019 promises to be a year of robust medical breakthroughs, with the above developments offering new hope, personalized treatment, and relief to those with various medical conditions. The pace of medical research and technology is exponential, and it remains to be seen what the future holds for the world of medicine, but exciting times undoubtedly lay ahead.
