You’ve probably seen or heard some kind of news about gene sequencing, and perhaps even personalized medicine. If not, you’re in for a treat. What do you think about having your doctor prescribe the exact medication you need for your health concerns on the first try? That would be great, wouldn’t it? This is how DNA sequencing in personalized medicine can help you.
Personalized medicine is leading-edge science. Dr. Lynn Jorde, researchers, and medical professionals are working daily to make personalized medicine accessible to more families, so you can enjoy better health.
DNA Sequencing in Personalized Medicine
The Utah Genome Project: Scientists Sequencing Families Genomes
At the forefront of scientist’s research at the University of Utah, is The Utah Genome Project, UGP. This research consists of using a leading-edge technology called whole genome sequencing to look at people’s genes.
The scientists involved in UGP are looking closely at the genes of thousands of members of large Utah families. These families have various diseases. This research is leading to discovering the causes of their diseases, making accurate diagnosis’ and also more effective treatments available.
Personal donors and companies contribute to the UGP. Personalized healthcare is important for many families, like mine, who face health problems for which there are not yet answers, and also for the general population.
Personalized Medicine
Whole-genome sequencing and personalized medicine is leading to knowing which medicines will treat a medical condition you or your family member have more effectively. Imagine, receiving a drug treatment that has been proven to help your specific disease matched with your specific genes!
Using personalized medicine will eliminate the need to try many drugs through the course of many months to find the right one for you! As a result, people won’t have to suffer from side effects from taking the wrong medicine and treatment won’t be delayed.
Receiving Answers Brings Peace and Better Treatments
Our family lived 33 years without answers as to why Heather and Logan had two rare diseases because there weren’t enough cases in the medical literature to answer our questions. This is too long for anyone to go without answers!
We became the first family in the world to have our entire genome sequenced. As a result, scientists discovered two separate genes which cause two separate diseases in my daughter and son, Heather and Logan Madsen. Miller syndrome, as well as a lung disease called, Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, PCD.
Finally, through receiving answers from this new technology we gained the peace of mind we lacked. Many people with health issues can now receive answers resulting in better treatment.
As a result of using gene sequencing, their doctors have now confirmed Heather and Logan receive the best treatment available for their diseases.
Many people with diseases and health issues can receive better treatments such as accurately prescribed drugs through personalized medicine use based on their own genes.
A generous donor, Mark Miller, arranged to have this video produced so the public and interested donors will know more about the UGP, personalized medicine, and how this research changes lives.
Personalized Medicine and Gene Sequencing, Explained by Dr. Lynn Jorde, U of U Human Genetics
