Top scientists call for human genome research reset

Professor Juergen Reichardt is an Adjunct Professor at James Cook University and formerly the Head of JCU's School of Pharmacy & Molecular Sciences. He is one of the authors of a recent editorial in the prestigious Cell Research journal, seeking a reset on the use of genetic advances.

Professor Reichardt said the goal is precision medicine and precision health for all.

"Precision health and medicine aims to tailor medical treatment and prevention strategies to the specific characteristics of an individual or a group of individuals, taking into account individual variability of genomic, environmental, and lifestyle characteristics.

"Precision health and medicine involves using advanced technologies, data analytics, and interventions to prevent disease, promote health and improve healthcare delivery at the population level," said Professor Reichardt.

But he said in an era where intense corporate competition and geopolitical agendas threaten global collaboration, a conscious effort must be made to make precision health and medicine available and accessible to all of humanity for generations to come.

"Left unchecked, precision medicine and precision health could become privileges reserved for rich countries, with wealth inequality driving health inequality," said Professor Reichardt.

The editorial, signed by more than 20 scientists, proposes the next stage of the Human Genome Project - the multinational effort which identified, mapped and sequenced all of the human genome.

"The Human Genome Project 2 (HGP2) will sequence the genomes of an initial 1% of the world's population, about 80 million people, from more than 100 countries.

"In achieving the goals set for the first 1% - which includes analysing genetic variations and producing actionable strategies for interventions to prevent disease - we believe that HGP2 will initiate a permanent paradigm shift toward precision health globally.

"HGP2 will open the gates for the rest of humanity to use their genome to lead healthier and longer lives, fulfilling the vision of the original Human Genome Project," said Professor Reichardt.

Juergen Reichardt will be travelling to conferences next month in Mexico, in March in South Africa and in April in Sri Lanka promoting human genomics and precision healthcare for all of humanity.

Link to paper here.