Clinical Applications of Genomics : Translation of Gene-Based Clinical Tools Into Practice
The tremendous progress being made in elucidating the genetic basis of disease has led to the hope that this knowledge can be used to develop better (safer and more effective) therapies and that these can be individualized to the needs of the patient (personalized medicine). The examples discussed earlier illustrate the potential benefits of gene-based clinical tools such as diagnostic tests, drugs, and biological agents in treating disease and, in some cases, preventing disease.
However, the availability of a gene-based clinical tool does not automatically mean it should be put into clinical practice. The translation of clinical tools into practice requires two additional (and necessary) steps: formulation of evidence-based clinical guidelines and creation of an implementation program.
