The unique approach of healthcare is becoming a thing of the past, passing into a more individualized care model that takes into account the unique characteristics of each person: their geneshis around and his Lifestyle. It is what is known as precision healthcare.
Greater knowledge of human genetics, combined with advances in biotechnology, diagnostics and data-driven technologies, has led to this change, allowing healthcare professionals better identify diseases and develop more precise and effective treatmentswith greater emphasis on risk prediction, prevention and preventative measures.
ADVERTISINGThe precision healthcare and the role of data in health care were some of the key themes debate in the first edition of the Abu Dhabi World Healthcare Weekan event where healthcare leaders, professionals, business owners and policy makers come together to collaborate, share ideas and strategize the future of healthcare.
How big data helps adapt medical treatments
At World Healthcare Week in Abu Dhabi it became clear that, paradoxically, the path towards individualized healthcare pass by the collection and the massive data exchange. “Real-world data has enormous potential to shape healthcare,” explained Alex Bedenkov, vice president of Global Evidence for AstraZeneca BioPharmaceuticals Medical.
“As we transition to the future of healthcare, we will increasingly rely on data and platforms world, including population health platforms.
At AstraZeneca, precision medicine is applied across its portfolio, first in oncology and now in addressing complex chronic diseases, by identifying and analyzing specific gene products and biomarkers to discover their relationship with the disease and guide tailored drug development.
Beyond the industry, national healthcare systems are also harnessing the power of data. The health data exchanges They are widespread around the world, but no system is more robust than the UAE’s Malaffi Health Information Exchange. Malaffi, a centralized database of unified patient records, allows the effective exchange of patient information between healthcare providersimproving healthcare delivery, equity and patient outcomes.
ADVERTISING“This kind of platform will change everything,” Bedenkov says of Malaffi. “Starting with the automation of the roads attention to the patient, passing through the health of the population and, most importantly, using this data for the benefit of the drug development“.
The revolutionary potential of genomic data
And it’s not just any data. Today, genetic and genomic data are shaping data-driven healthcare tools. As a paradigmatic example, we can look at the Genomic Program of the Emirates, the largest genomic project in the world, which uses cutting-edge DNA sequencing and artificial intelligence technologies To generate genomic data complete and quality about the Emiratis.
Incorporated into the Malaffi exchange, this reference genome is now serving as the basis for clinical decision-making to improve health outcomes at scale. This will mean a significant leap towards precision medicine and safer healthcare, and progress will continue as scientists gain a more complete understanding of what drives human health and disease at the genetic level.
Ashish Koshy, COO of M42, understands this better than anyone. His organization’s deeptech product, Med42, is an open-access clinical Large Language Model (LLM) based on Generative AI and trained with data from the Emirati Genome Programme.
“As a health technology company, high-quality data sets are essential to obtain insights that support personalized and precision medicine. genomics of each individual is his point“he explained.
“The Emirates Genome Program offers all citizens the possibility to sequence their genes, which means we can better understand each person’s health risks. When they enter a hospital, doctors will be able to prescribe medications based on their genomics, using the Malaffi portal.”
Unlock the full value of our health data
Despite promising national collaborations, exemplified by Malaffi and the Emirates Genome Programme, there is nothing like it on an international scale. Regulatory problems and bureaucracy in the public and private sectors prevent progress, but if we really want to influence global health, countries and companies around the world need to come together. “Working from national data sets cannot solve all of our problems,” says Koshy. “But imagine if we could getting countries to securely share data sets to solve much bigger problems.
“To see the true benefit of AI, the data must be on a large scale. We should collaborate, not only within Abu Dhabi, but also between different regions“.
The aim of Abu Dhabi World Healthcare Week is to enable this type of international and intersectoral collaboration. This year, AstraZeneca and M42 were joined by dozens of other international healthcare leaders at the inaugural event, including Raymond Fryrear II, Global Head of Digital Solutions at Johnson & Johnson.
“This conference is a unique experience, with policymakers, suppliers and industry all under one roof having these conversations,” said Fryrear. “Technology and biology are important pieces of the puzzle, but the most important piece is people. “That’s why connections and networks are so important.”
ADVERTISINGEmpower patients with equitable access
Precision medicine does not always have to be new and complex. Dr. Stephen Grobmyer, President of the Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, explained how its state-of-the-art facilities are combined with a patient-centered care model.
“In addition to the technology that is coming, at the Cleveland Clinic we tend to focus on the basics, which is the exercisehe weight control and the family background. “If we could get people to stop smoking, exercise three times a week, and control their diet, we would go a long way toward reducing diabetes, obesity, and many of the diseases related to those habits.”
Data sharing coupled with AI technologies helps support this basic approach, putting power back into the hands of the individual. Widely accessible digital innovations, such as health tracking via biometric data and the diagnostic results in applications, they contribute to democratizing access to healthcare.
All the innovations in this field were present in Abu Dhabi, such as GluCare, a health center for diabetics that offers remote metabolic monitoring, and DietID, a digital dietary assessment tool. The objective of these digital applications is simplify the patient experiencemaking it easier and faster to enroll in diagnostic tests and health management programs that use evidence-based AI tools to deliver health advice at scale.
In addition to easing the burden on healthcare systems, these precise digital tools promote health awareness and empower the population to take charge of your healthincorporating genetic and biometric lifestyle factors into your daily life.
Data sharing and security
Despite its potential to improve population health and facilitate research, many people find it still worryingto be sharedlarge scale health dataespecially when it comes to its use in artificial intelligence tools.
While the potential for precision healthcare is enormous, cross-border and cross-sector collaboration is crucial to address regulatory challenges, ensure data security and democratize he access to healthcare.
“It is not only an obstacle, but also a chance“said Koshi. “We need to work together collaboratively among all stakeholders, including governments and policymakers, to understand how to use this data appropriately, without harming patients and their interests.”
With new advancements driving global healthcare forward every day, events like Abu Dhabi World Healthcare Week help build the path to success. Beyond genetics and data, this year’s event showed a wide range of new technologies and innovationsand also held forums with policymakers and business leaders to support the future healthcare strategy and unleash the full potential of precision healthcare around the world.