A new precision medicine center, specifically for pediatrics, has launched in Utah.
This new center is the result of collaborative efforts from the Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, Intermountain Precision Genomics, and the University of Utah Health.
Precision Medicine
Precision medicine is exactly as it sounds. The goal is to create more precise treatments for individuals living with rare and debilitating genetic disorders. Its scope is broad, covering screening, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
In order to create precise treatments, patients must be looked at as individuals with not only different genes, but different lifestyles and lived environments.
The Center
This center aims to deliver precision medicine to infants and children suffering from debilitating, and sometimes life-threatening conditions.
With rapid whole genome sequencing, the genetic cause of a condition is able to be identified, and precise treatment provided.
Gene therapies have already shown extensive promise and are currently in clinical trials for a wide array of rare diseases including adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy (DMD). This center is one of just 6 in the country which provides gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
In addition to gene therapies, the center is working with stem cell research, immunotherapies for combatting brain tumors, regenerative medicine, and other therapeutic options.
The center has explained that its first focus will be to aid infants who are in the newborn ICU. Additionally, they will support children who are dealing with seizures and serious heart conditions.
Looking Forward
The creation of this center was possible due to collaborative efforts. When the expertise of physicians, scientists, caregivers, patients, and their families, are all leveraged together, amazing things can happen.
The hope is always for not just new treatments, but for new cures, and we’re excited about the future for this center.
You can read more about this new center here.
