The Doctors are OK with this?

Yesterday in "The Times" a nice article was posted about the revolutionary way in which doctors will receive education about CLINICAL genetics, this time it is from NonClinical Scientists......

At the tune of 4.5 Million British Pounds!

This may work with CGCs, oh wait, they don't do much of anything in the UK system.

What about clinical geneticists?
Who?

Ok, scientists it is......

So I can just see it now.

A busy NHS practice, patients out the door, flu shot here, flu shot there and in rolls the "Scientist"

Clinician-"Oh hi, you must be the genetics guy sent from the government. Have a seat, I'll be right with you"

4 hours later

Scientist-Sitting nicely, waiting

Clinician-"Ok, lets chat over lunch"

Scientist-"Glad to be here, Let's talk about what a chromosome is"

Clinician-Scarfing down a sandwich "Ok, that was great, gotta go. I am double booked. See you in a few"

4 hours later

Scientist-Sitting Nicely, waiting

Clinician-"Sorry about that, I had a sickie and then the crazy lady....G-d where did the time go?"

Scientist-"See you tomorrow?"

Clinician-"You bet, I feel better prepared already"

As nice as this one is, I have already tried it with a clinical geneticist who actually can create billable events and see patients........ I am not so certain that going to the doctors will help as much as being on their iPhone or on a hotline.......

The Sherpa Says: When climbing the mountain for the first time, it is best to chat with someone who has been there before.....Muin and Franics, I hope you are paying attention here.

Congratulations President Obama

Now that we have a new president many may wonder what will occur in the realm of personalized medicine. Well, the short answer is ALOT. Several things that the democratic majority in the house, senate and executive branch plan to enact.

1. Senator/President Elect Obama's Personalized Medicine Bill will likely pass or Congressman Kennedy's version. What does that mean?

He has proposed an interagency task force on genomics research, modernize FDA review of genomics tests and expand support to genomics researchers, including funding and creation of a new mechanism to allow researchers across the country to access and analyze genomics research. As president, Obama will continue to support advances in personalized medicine to help ensure early detection and treatment of cancer and other diseases.

The bill appropriates $75 million a year to establish a National Biobanking Initiative and another $26 million to "Realizing the Potential of Personalized Medicine".

This means greater regulation in the field....including DTC testing. Too bad for Rupert Murdoch but we are actually going to require evidence for testing...

2. Increased funding for Personalized Medicine in Oncology
The Obama-Biden plan will help our health care workforce grow by expanding funding for loan repayment, adequate reimbursement, grants for training curricula, the Nurse Reinvestment Act of Title VIII of the Public Health Act, and infrastructure support to improve working conditions.

The Obama-Biden plan to double cancer research funding will also help recruit and retain clinical researchers who specialize in cancer by providing adequate funding for oncological study.

3. Obama will likely be having Francis advise him.... Can only mean good things.

The Sherpa Says: With an ailing economy, we need to invest in healthcare. It is the only resistant sector and it can lead us to better health outcomes.......

Nature or Nurture? Yes.....

In Science this week my hero Francis Collins states his ultimate desires and has finally broken through by pushing the linking of the US governmental departments of National Human Genome Research Institute and the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences. The director of NIEHS Dr David Schwartz PhD agrees that these two organizations have taken too long to speak. I view this combo like I do a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Chocolate and Peanut Butter, both great.....even better together!

Why? Despite all of the big companies out there designing the best drugs.....which may be taken once, twice or three times a day. We breath air 12 times a minute, drink/eat more than 5 times a day, shower, swim, wear clothes, inhale 2nd hand smoke, taste pesticides, use plastic, microwaves, radio waves, cell phones......You get the drift. The project is called the Genes, Environment, and Health Initiative, which already has a $40 million annual budget. Now not just the right drug for the right person and the right disease, but the right diet, the right water, the right exercise, the right environment! Imagine the relocation to avoid cancer, or to prevent diabetes. In all seriousness, this effort will take decades. But with Francis at the helm I am sure a milestone or two will be broken. After all the Human Genome Project finished 2 years early.....