As genomic testing becomes more popular, it is outstripping the industry's ability to provide experts to interpret the results. The shortage of trained counselors highlights a paradox — rapid adoption can be just as big of a threat to the future of the field as too slow adoption. More
Tag Index / Showing 1 - 20 of 52 results for “genomics”
Genomic Medicine’s Racial Inequality Problem: A Conversation with Malia Fullerton
The medical benefits of genomics go disproportionately to white people, while people of other ethnicities are more likely to receive inconclusive results because scientists don’t know enough about their genetic variation. We spoke with Malia Fullerton, a bioethicist and population genetics expert, about what can be done about it. More
Genomics Yields Insights About Ancient Humans
Scientists are using genomics to reconstruct the evolutionary history of humans. These findings shed new light on our past, and also yield insights into related species, like the Neanderthals as well as other ancient hominids. At the recent Advances in Genome Biology and Technology conference, Meredith Salisbury reports on the results. More
Bio & Life Sciences Healthcare Science
As Genomics Matures, Funding Priorities Will Shift
During the next two years, NHGRI will be using interactions with scientists and the public to take stock of the genomics field and where its funds can make the most difference. The landscape has shifted rapidly from the institute's early days, when it set the direction for much of the genomics community around the world. More
Bio & Life Sciences Innovation
India: A Wellspring of Untapped Genetic Knowledge
Now is a unique time in the history of world healthcare. We can sequence faster, and we can sequence at a lower cost. Indian genomic data will unlock more of life’s source code to benefit everyone. More
Bio & Life Sciences Healthcare
What’s Lurking in Your Genome?
It's still hard to know what to do about genetic news that's discovered about a patient during sequencing for another reason. A small percentage of such tests turn up disturbing findings. Some people want to know, some don't, but figuring out what to do often vexes doctors and researchers. Debate about how to handle this problem is growing within the genetics world. More
Genetic Research That Helps Individuals Too
Preventing genetic diseases may sound like a dream. While ethical and regulatory challenges still remain within our system, companies like Color can provide responsible, compliant access to preventive genetic information for individuals to take action for their health future. More
New Efforts Promote Open Data in Science and Medicine
For American healthcare to improve, institutions must be able to share data. But they can’t. HIPAA and restrictive consent forms are among the challenges to data accessibility. But new approaches are emerging, and it may usher a new open data era. More
The Bioethics and Geopolitics of Genomics (at Techonomy Health)
New genomics technologies empower us to understand, manipulate, and even write the code of life. These technologies may produce medicine, biofuels, and bring major benefits to humanity. But they can also be used maliciously, for genetic discrimination or bioweapons. How do we ensure that they are used for good? This Techonomy Health session tackled these gnarly matters. More
FDA Greenlights 23andMe and Opens New Era for Consumer DNA Info
It was a much-needed breakthrough when the FDA last week OK'd personal genomics company 23andMe selling genetic tests directly to consumers. In 2013 the agency had banned the startup from releasing disease-related information. Now we should finally see a consumer-driven marketplace for genomic data. More
Bio & Life Sciences Healthcare
Islamic Bioethicists Debate Genomics at Qatar Health Summit
Many countries in the Middle East see exciting opportunities in genomics. Yet they also face challenging questions about reconciling it with local moral and cultural traditions. At a meeting in Qatar global healthcare leaders debated guidelines for a region where, for example, more than 20% of marriages are between first cousins. More
Bio & Life Sciences Healthcare
The Three-Parent Baby Is Not as Weird as You Think
People may have a "yuck response" when they hear about this new experimental technique for creating healthy babies. But it isn't as huge a leap from what we're used to as most reports would suggest, as Techonomy's genomics expert explains. Like a top medical source she quotes here, Salisbury will be continuing this conversation at Techonomy 2016 on November 10. More
Bio & Life Sciences Healthcare
Beyond Human: Life Extension, Enhancement, and the Future
If artificial organs, miniature robots, and advanced medications could keep you healthy, would you want to live for hundreds of years? Author Eve Herold's new book "Beyond Human" argues that we might as well get used to these ideas, because they are inevitably coming. Reviewer Salisbury finds this an important overview of a rapidly-developing field of medical science, but is not yet ready to join the immortals herself. More
Bio & Life Sciences Healthcare
Lawsuit Underscores Risk of Thinking Genetic Tests Authoritative
A recently filed lawsuit suggests trouble may be brewing for the new era of genomic testing. A mother claims an inaccurate test result contributed to the death of her young son, who had a mitochondrial disorder. But interpreting genetic tests remains as much art as science, which we will have to accept if this field is to get on its feet. It would be a shame if such tragedies hindered the innovations that will ultimately make genomic medicine more reliable. More
Bio & Life Sciences Healthcare
Genomic Medicine Is Here. American Healthcare Isn’t Ready.
As many as half a million people have had their genomes sequenced. This data has already contributed to major medical success stories, but it is not yet clear that genomics can overcome the significant barriers that exist in traditional medicine to achieve its potential for American healthcare. More
Bio & Life Sciences Healthcare
Dear Scientists: This Is Why People Hate You
Editors of the New England Journal of Medicine called scientists who make discoveries from publicly-shared data “research parasites.” Outrage ensued. Too many scientists believe they get a competitive advantage from data no one else has access to. More
Bio & Life Sciences Government Healthcare
Why Obama Is Right about Cancer: Genomics
President Obama’s optimistic language about finally nearing a cure for cancer in the State of the Union comes as creative approaches are showing more promise than ever. Two major announcements highlight important new opportunities to diagnose and treat cancer—and both are only possible because of advances in genomics. More
5 Genomic Advances To Be Thankful For
With Thanksgiving approaching, Techonomy's resident champion of genomics details some things she's thankful for this year: Better Cancer Testing; Increased Data-Sharing Efforts; Scientists Who Push Boundaries (and Police Themselves Too); Living Foundries; and the FDA's Approval of the First DTC Genetic Test. She looks forward to more advances that will help regular consumers as programs like the federal Precision Medicine Initiative kick off. More
Bio & Life Sciences Healthcare
How Anybody Can Help Advance Genomic Medicine Now
Genomic medicine is on the horizon, and is likely to change healthcare. But there’s no shortage of challenges: regulations, data-sharing limits, funding, and lack of research participants, to name a few. But the biggest obstacle, surprisingly, is what's called "informed consent." That's what people need to agree to if they are to participate in research. And right now, each of us has a unique chance to minimize this obstacle by speaking out for a change. More
Bio & Life Sciences Healthcare Society
Meeting My Genome: This Expensive Test Still Isn’t for Everyone
Earlier this year, I moderated a panel discussion at Techonomy Bio and asked speakers whether genome sequencing was ready for the average consumer. Their responses were split. Having now just gotten my own genome sequenced, I can say definitively: yes it’s ready, and no it isn’t. More
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