Molecular medicine

The key notion underlying molecular medicine is that diseases have their origin in processes occurring at the molecular and cellular level. Each of us has a unique genetic profile, and it’s reflected through the expression of our genes to the extent that every one of us is visibly and biochemically different. It’s how, when and why the genes in our chromosomes are switched on and off – the process known as gene expression – that makes us what we are. And diseases are often associated with changes in the gene expression levels.

Our gene expression, and the myriad different molecular reactions that it triggers in our bodies, now lies at the heart of a paradigm shift that’s taking place in the way we diagnose and treat disease, because differences in our genes can dramatically change the way our bodies react to certain drugs. In the extreme, similar dosages of a drug that’s highly effective in one patient can be lethal to another. In other words, it’s so personal that it can be a matter of life or death, and it’s leading to a whole new field of medicine known as pharmacogenomics – the tailoring of drug therapies to specific genotypes in order to maximize their efficacy and reduce their side effects. It’s the biggest change in medicine for the last few thousand years and it’s being made possible by developments in molecular healthcare.