GEN Reports on the Evolution of Digital Medicine

June 21, 2011 - PRLog -- Contact: John Sterling, Editor in Chief, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, 914-740-2196, email: jsterling@genengnews.com

GEN Reports on the Evolution of Digital Medicine

New Rochelle, NY—The convergence of commercial genomic kits and electronic medical records is helping to drive the healthcare industry’s focus on personalized medicine, reports Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN). Although it’s still early, observers suggest this integration of technologies has the potential to change the way therapeutics are developed, according to the June 15 issue of GEN (http://www.genengnews.com/gen-articles/classic-medicine-awaits-digital-overhaul/3701).

“The emergence of personalized medicine on a broad scale may take place sooner than later due to the rapid advances in a number of technologies that supports this promising new paradigm for diagnosing and treating human disease,” said John Sterling, Editor in Chief of GEN.

For example, GE Healthcare IT has developed an anonymized database of 18 million lives that complies with the strictures of the Health Information and Patient Portability Act (HIPPA). GE has both standardized the terminology within the database and normalized its data. One of the company’s goals is to support the use of electronic medical records early in clinical trials.

A number of firms, like 23andMe, are already offering genetic testing directly to consumers. While these companies do not directly sequence the genome, company officials point out that they are providing information that allows patients to tell their physicians they have the markers for particular conditions.

Other insights in the GEN article on digital medicine are provided by Cerner, SAIC-Frederick, Siemens Healthcare, and Johnson & Johnson.

For a copy of the June 15 issue of GEN, please call (914) 740-2122, or email: ebicovny@liebertpub.com

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Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN) has retained its position as the number one biotech publisher around the globe since its launch in 1981. GEN publishes a print edition 21 times a year and has additional exclusive editorial content online, such as news and analysis, podcasts, webinars, polls, videos, and application notes. GEN's unique news and technology focus includes the entire bioproduct life cycle from early-stage R&D, to applied research including omics, biomarkers, as well as diagnostics, to bioprocessing and commercialization.