Genomic Medicine

The Human Genome Project was a trailblazing endeavor that laid the foundation for the development of genomics as a discipline. Within recent decades, genomics has been amalgamated into clinical research and clinical application to form a framework for genomic medicine. While it has been just a theoretical exercise for many years, the recent success in implementing antisense therapeutics and RNA-based pharmaceuticals has proven the sustainability of this approach. Today, we have 18 RNA-base drugs approved by the FDA, and these drugs constitute a chemically quite diverse group of pharmaceuticals. In addition, while the primary target market for RNA-based therapeutics has been on rare diseases, development pipelines already involve more common diseases. On top of being the source for drug development, the human genome and genomics also offer an opportunity for biomarker development. RNA-based biomarkers have gained significant interest due to their versatility and accessibility. RBA-based biomarkers may also help shed light on molecular mechanisms for different pathologies and provide information about the targetable transcripts.

The issue will give an overview of genomic medicine, its findings and different applications. The issue will focus on technologies and different pathologies where genomic medicine can have practical implications. This is a combination of different fields of genetic medicine, from exploratory research to more development and industrial applications.

The scope of the issue is to provide readers with up-to-date research outcomes from genomics and genomic medicine. The issue will give an overview of how genomics has changed and continues to change the medical practice and health care landscape.

Keywords: Genomic Medicine, Genomics, Gene Expression Profiling, Biomarkers, Drug Development, Antisense Oligonucleotides, RNA Therapeutics