Special Issue: Personalized Medicine [Guest Editors]

Pirmohamed, M. and Sills, G. J. (2010) Special Issue: Personalized Medicine [Guest Editors]. Pharmaceuticals,

Abstract

Inter-individual variation in drug response is a major hurdle to successful disease management. Some patients will respond well to the introduction of a new medication, others will achieve little or no benefit, some will get worse, many will not tolerate the new drug and an unfortunate few may experience a severe adverse reaction. This uncertainty about the outcome of treatment is a reflection of the empiricism which remains in modern medicine and which has significant social and economic consequences. The concept of personalized medicine is one in which biological information about an individual is used to optimise the diagnosis and management of their disease. It holds promise for the rational use of therapy and the avoidance of poor and potentially life-threatening outcomes. After many years of wishful predictions, we now stand on the cusp of an era of personalized medicine, with applications already emerging in several areas of clinical care and others expected to bear fruit in due course. This is in part due to the success of the Human Genome Project, an improved understanding of human biology, and the widening availability of technologies to support systems biology research. This special issue of Pharmaceuticals will highlight ongoing investigations and recent developments in the pursuit of personalized medicine in several key therapeutic arenas, with particular emphasis on genetic contributors to variation in drug responsiveness.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: No
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Sills, Dr Graeme
• Authors: Pirmohamed, M., and Sills, G. J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
• Journal Name: Pharmaceuticals
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1424-8247
• ISSN (Online): 1424-8247