Personalized Medicine - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which doctor should I consult for knowing the advances in personalized treatment and know the risk potential for a disease?

A: A General Practitioner (GP) should be consulted to know the underlying risks for inheriting a disease and how to treat the same with faster treatment time and minimal side effects. Based on the risks involved and the available clinical information, the GP may then refer to a Geneticist who can advise further on individualized treatment regime to prevent or treat a disease

Q: How is personalized medicine different from "one size fits all" type of treatment?

A: In the “one size fits all” approach, the same medicine and treatment regime is maintained for all patients suffering from a particular disease. However, with personalized medicine, the genomics of humans is evaluated and individualized treatments are identified to better manage the disease

Q: Does pharmacogenomics help in predicting the undesirable reactions to a drug?

A: Yes, pharmacogenomics helps in classifying individuals based on their genetic make-up. The toxicity of a drug can be overcome by working out an optimum dose and administering to the right set of individuals