Genomics and the Future of Personalized Medicine and Diagnostics
Description of Track
The opening plenary of the Personalized Medicine & Diagnostics Track will feature J. Craig Venter, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the J. Craig Venter Institute, a not-for-profit, research organization with approximately 250 scientists and staff dedicated to human, microbial, plant, synthetic and environmental genomic research, and the exploration of social and ethical issues in genomics.
Dr. Venter is co-founder, executive chairman and co-chief scientist of Synthetic Genomics, Inc. (SGI), a privately held company focused on developing products and solutions using synthetic genomics technologies.
Dr. Venter is also a co-founder and executive chairman of Human Longevity, Inc. (HLI), a San Diego-based genomics and cell therapy-based diagnostic and therapeutic company focused on extending the healthy, high performance human life span.
Speaker:
J. Craig Venter, Ph.D.
Co-Founder, Executive Chairman, Head – Scientific Strategy
Human Longevity, Inc.
Notes-Health is the New Wealth–Potential of Genomic Medicine
We have covered the topic of personalized medicine and genomics many times in the past and now we have reached the commercial level whereby individuals can access their “digitized biology” for prevention, diagnosis and treatment. J.Craig Venter presented his vision for a “happier life” as embodied with tools from his Company, Human Longevity, Inc. (HLI). Craig is a leading scientist through his contribution to a genomic research beginning with his founding of Celera Genomics and culminating in a February 2001 publication of the human genome.
The HLI objective is to transform medicine in a proactive, personalized way through state-of-the-art DNA sequencing and expert imaging analysis with machine learning analysis. The HLI health intelligence engine integrates genotypic and phenotypic information to accelerate the understanding of human health. HLI offers several premium priced services utilizing whole genome sequencing for clinical status and health insights, a so-called Health Nucleus (HNX) program that utilizes brain MRI Imaging, full body CT imaging and Whole Genome Sequencing to assess diseases risk for an introductory price of $7500 (not covered by any health insurance plans to our knowledge). Thousands of genomes can be assessed in real-time. Two major risk factors can be assessed for cardiovascular and fatty liver disease (steatosis) . An HLI program also supports physicians for personalized oncology therapy.
Forty drugs are currently in the pharmaceutical pipeline for fatty liver disease also known as NASH with a huge multibillion market potential, thus sophisticated diagnostics will be of increasing importance.
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Another personal genomics Company we visited during BIO is 23 and Me which provides health (not for medical decisions) and ancestry (e.g.haplotypes) testing through genotyping analysis. 75 personalized genetic reports covering health, traits and ancestry are provided.