CRISPR Medicine News reported on ongoing trials and researches

Can personalised medicine and gene editing be the future of healthcare? Experts weigh in on the medical model that helps identify the root cause of an illness at a molecular level

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inhibitor. The result was a dramatic clinical response, with significant tumour shrinkage and symptom relief - demonstrating the power of matching the right drug to the right mutation," adds Dr Nathany.

Dr Malhotra breaks this down in simple terms for us. Gene editing is basically an attempt to correct any abnormalities in our genetic code that might have been the causal factor of any disease or severe condition. He says, "For instance, if a mutation in a specific gene is responsible for a disease, modern gene-editing technologies can alter or replace that faulty sequence to restore normal function."

This, he explains, has given way to targeted therapies for cancer treatment where specific pathways that are responsible for the tumour or uncontrolled cell growth are corrected in what is known as "precision oncology". Dr Malhotra adds, "While gene editing is still emerging in cancer treatment, it has already shown promising results in treating certain genetic and viral conditions."

To this, Dr Nathany adds, "Gene-focused medicine can help in rare diseases and inherited conditions. Tools like whole exome sequencing or gene panels can uncover causes of unexplained disorders - even in infants - and point toward targeted therapies or future gene-editing solutions."