Precision medicine, a cutting-edge approach tailored to individual genetic profiles, is facing significant equity challenges, particularly in the representation of minority and ethnic populations in clinical research. This underrepresentation threatens to widen health disparities among different races and ethnicities in the United States, despite the field’s potential to revolutionize treatment for a wide range of diseases.
The Nonprofit Quarterly highlighted these concerns, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive approach to collecting and analyzing genetic data. The lack of diverse genomic data undermines the effectiveness of precision medicine, potentially leading to treatments that are less effective for underrepresented groups.
Health equity innovation in precision medicine is a pressing concern, as acknowledged by experts at a summit hosted by Texas A&M Health. The summit explored the challenges of integrating social and health data to improve outcomes for underrepresented minority (URM) populations, particularly older adults. The consensus was clear: to fulfill the promise of precision medicine, efforts must be made to include a broader range of genetic data and to build trust within these communities.
Harvard Medical School’s symposium on precision-driven health equity further underscored the importance of addressing nonbiological drivers of disease and eliminating racial bias in clinical medicine. The event highlighted the critical role of environment and social factors in health, advocating for a more nuanced approach to precision medicine that goes beyond genetics.
The issue of equity in health and precision medicine also extends to the consideration of race and ethnicity in research and clinical care. Studies have shown that disparities in access to personalized medicine are partly due to a lack of engagement and recruitment of underrepresented populations. This situation is exacerbated by historical and ongoing racial discrimination, underscoring the need for systemic changes to ensure equitable access to healthcare resources.
Efforts to address these disparities are underway, as demonstrated by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation’s $10 million grant to health organizations. This initiative aims to reconsider the use of race in medical algorithms and research, a step towards reducing racial bias in medicine.
In conclusion, while precision medicine holds great promise for individualized treatment, significant work remains to ensure it benefits all segments of the population equally. Addressing the underrepresentation of minority and ethnic groups in clinical research is crucial to achieving health equity in the era of precision medicine.
See “Precision medicine, a cutting-edge approach tailored to individual genetic profiles, is facing significant equity challenges” by Tonie Marie Gordon on the NPQ Non Profit Quarterly website (January 21, 2024)
