While personalised medicine holds the promise of better therapies, there are challenges involved in its widespread implementation, from basic research to uptake in health care, according to report published by the European Commission last week. These challenges include gaining a better understanding of the molecular basis of diseases, having access to high quality biological samples, developing tests for new biomarkers, and designing new, more flexible means of collecting and analysing genetic data from clinical trials. When the science reaches the bedside, there will be a need for “significant upfront investment” in technological upgrades and structural changes, as well as education and training.
