The Future of Medicine is Personal

Guest: Fran Smith, Medical Journalist, Author of “How Personalized Medicine is Transforming Your Healthcare,” National Geographic When someone is diagnosed with an illness today –whether it’s strep throat or cancer –the treatment they receive is based on what has generally worked for lots of other people who’ve had that same illness. A doctor may say, “This drug I’m prescribing worked well in 60 percent of patients with your condition. About 10 percent of people had bad side effects when they took it, so let’s hope it works for you.” But increasingly, scientists are figuring out how to flip that approach on its head. Rather than use blanket treatments that work for some people but not others, doctors will be able to look at your DNA profile and unique biochemical makeup and then tailor treatment for you.