Your Genomic Knowledge Hub

About 2 years ago we did a post on what doctors pioneering the use of Genomics had to say. This Doctors’ Day, we share messages from some of our healthcare experts:

Dr. Amitava Ray

Dr. Amitava Ray is one of the top neurosurgeons of Hyderabad, associated with Apollo Hospitals. Dr. Ray talks about how genomics is revolutionizing healthcare. 

Dr. Manjula Anagani

Dr. Manjula Anagani, MD, is a Consultant Gynaecologist, Obstetrician & Laparoscopic Surgeon at Maxcure Hospitals Hyderabad. She was honored with Padma Shri in 2015. Dr. Manjula speaks about the importance of genomics and genetic testing in obstetrics.

Dr. Arun Gangadhar

Dr. Arun Gangadhar is Chairman & MD, IIHNL, Nigeria. He has pioneered genomics in Nigeria, giving his patients accesses to personalized and preventive healthcare.

“A wise doctor does not mutter incantations over a sore that needs the knife” — Sophocles

The basic idea that reactions to environmental factors have to be observed within the differences of our individual selves proposes the main concept of genomic medicine. Genome testing in a clinical setting will allow physicians to confirm diagnosis and plan for advanced treatment procedures.

The medical inference of every possible variation has been researched since long, and particularly, traces back to the beginning of 20th century. One tool of supreme importance used across many laboratories is polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Reverse Transcriptase – Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Methods like these help address recognizable genetic disorders, trace for any background concerns of disease development, develop arrays for expressing genes, and arrive at safe and amiable solutions. One classic example where these tools play a huge role is in the field of hemato-oncology by identifying chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Newer molecules targeting specific abnormalities have been introduced in the clinical practice and more are to come in near future. The road ahead is bright and green. Pathologists have larger role to play in future as they’re the bridge between analysis and physicians directly handling the patients. The Human Genome Project (HGP), one of the world’s largest collaborative project triggered many developments in medicine. In the modern day, there are many developments in genomics that help doctors develop beneficiary treatment procedures for patients.

Gene testing for patient care has been gaining popularity in recent times. This has resulted in extensive efforts to understand abnormalities in genes and their applications across clinical settings. Additionally, we would require continued research towards finding new targets.

There are many knowledgeable areas that have lead to the advancement of genomic medicine. They are: characterization of genomic variation among individuals in the target populations, identifying clinically significant variants in each group, assessing the extent at which intervention could alter expected outcome, deducing the costs of processes, and balancing them against the requirements of society. In societies in which pandemic disorders are the result of lifestyle (obesity, diabetes, starvation, endemic infection, etc.) genomic medicine as a health strategy may come second to other public health interventions in efficacy.

We heartily salute doctors who strive in every possible way for making people’s lives better.

MapmyGenome wishes everyone a Happy Doctors’ Day.

References:

1. Byers, Peter. “The role of genomics in medicine–past, present and future.”Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B vol. 7,2 (2006): 159-60. doi:10.1631/jzus.2006.B0159