In order to better comprehend factors responsible for the biological basis of
individual differences and environmental and lifestyle factors, it is necessary to
analyze data from hundreds and thousands of subjects covered by these studies.
Such studies are extremely expensive, so that it is important to manage their results
in the right and professional way. It is the results of such studies that are important
for the development of personalized medicine. Methods for collection of data on
phenotype, diagnostic criteria, lifestyle, and environment will be used. Some of
these parameters change during lifetime. Furthermore, with the advancement of
knowledge, new questions would arise demanding new studies and new patient
cohorts, demographic data, which may not exist in the previous research. Therefore,
it is crucial to update and improve phenotypic and environmental databases to
advance research that should lead to truly personalized medicine. For this reason,
the path to truly personalized medicine is long.^24
Studies in particular groups provide knowledge of diseases with respect to the
combination of internal and environmental factors. Even more important is the fact
that they ensure a prospective approach in which disease development can be
analyzed during time in the population that is better defined.
It is assumed that genetics is an important factor that determines susceptibility of
the particular individual to disease. In the last years, a breakthrough in methods
such as genome sequencing and whole genome association studies has resulted in
the identification of link between 1888 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in
210 different diseases.^25 Although this link accounts for only a small portion of
genetic predisposition to common diseases, such and similar studies have already
yielded numerous potentially significant results.
Genetics is only one path towards understanding individual disease variations.
Research priorities in personalized medicine include analysis of data on life events
and environmental factors in relation to epigenomic, proteomic, metabolomics, and
transcriptomic features. To make sure that the results of these studies are truly
valuable, data should be carefully processed and continuously updated so as to take
into account demographic changes and progress in knowledge.
10 Timeline for the Development and Implementation
of Personalized Medicine
According to some scenarios, implementation of personalized medicine could take
up to 20 years. All the while, projections of the levels of technology, medicine, and
integration need to be coordinated (Table 1 ). In the EFC Forward Look document,
predictions over the period of 5, 10, and 15 years with tasks and phases defined to
detail can be found (Table 2 ).
(^24) ESF Forward Look ( 2012 ).
(^25) http://www.genome.gov/26525384, accessed on January 1st 2016.
14 K. Pavelic ́et al.