SUMMARY

The term “molecular healthcare” is one we use to describe the current impact and direction we see genomics and ancillary molecular testing taking in medicine. While other terms like “precision” or “personalized medicine” are used to describe the advances genomics and other technologies have made in healthcare, we contend the goals of precision or personalized medicine have yet to be achieved. We are of the view that the current practice of medicine remains an inexact science and still tends to be reactive rather than preventive, predictive, and accurate. Therefore, we feel “molecular healthcare” better characterizes the current state of genomics in medicine. While we feel we are still in the early innings of unlocking the true potential of genomics, recent discoveries from sequencing the human genome and movement into the clinical setting have enhanced researchers’ ability to classify individuals into subpopulations by disease type or treatment method. In our view, the further development and use of molecular healthcare will be fueled by healthcare consumers gradually gaining a better understanding of the meaning and value of molecular information as well as clinicians being armed with the right tools and technologies to deal with the complexity of disease diagnosis, onset, progression, treatment, prognosis, and outcome. To achieve the ultimate goal of precision or personalized medicine, further technological advances and infrastructure changes must be realized in the areas of sequencing, testing, and regulation. Although we think we are only in the first couple innings of the development of genomics applications in healthcare, the foundation for such an ecosystem is already being formed, and we believe molecular healthcare is a key early pillar leading to personalized healthcare.