Breakthroughs in medicine improve treatment and extend lives. They also help reduce the financial burden on healthcare systems.
Vaccines
One of the reasons why you should participate in clinical trials is that vaccines are crucial in preventing diseases and have saved countless lives, making them a critical component of worldwide public health. The first vaccine, created in 1796 by Edward Jenner using cowpox to protect against smallpox, today shields us from various infections, diseases, and malignancies.
A vaccine exposes the immune system to a weakened virus that can replicate in cells without causing disease, thus preparing the body to fight the virus. It is done by passing the disease-causing virus through a series of cell cultures or embryos (typically chick) until it loses its ability to replicate.
Newer vaccine types include viral vector vaccines, mRNA, and DNA vaccines. It can take up to 10 years for a vaccine to go from discovery research through phase I clinical trials to approval by the FDA.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence significantly impacts healthcare by providing operating leverage for medical institutions and improving patient outcomes. AI can help with various tasks, from recognizing symptoms and diagnosing disease to reducing costs and managing medical records.
Using natural language processing, artificial intelligence can reduce medical errors by reading clinical notes and automatically transcribes them into electronic health records (EHR). In addition, AI can help with other administrative tasks such as analyzing medical images, scheduling appointments, or identifying billing fraud in insurance claims.
However, it’s important to note that even though AI can increasingly perform many tasks on par with human physicians, there are several risks involved in implementing this technology in medicine. These include resulting patient injuries due to software errors and the risk of privacy violations when collecting large amounts of personal data.
Stem Cells
Stem cells possess the unique capability to transform into specific cell types. One type of stem cell builds your blood cells, another supports bone cells, and a third helps repair damaged tissues or organs.
Medical researchers study these special cells to learn how diseases develop. They also use lab-made stem cells to test new drugs for safety and effectiveness.
For example, hematopoietic stem cells can replace the blood cells that cancer chemotherapy or radiation damages. Bone marrow transplants treat blood cancer and some disorders like sickle cell anemia. And mesenchymal stem cells help regenerate bone, cartilage, and muscle to treat musculoskeletal conditions like osteoarthritis and broken bones. However, these therapies are still in their early stages of development.
Nanotechnology
Imagine manipulating a single atom or creating a robot walking inside cell components. These scientific fantasies are now closer to reality thanks to nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology uses structures smaller than the wavelength of light to improve performance in a wide range of materials and products. It can make metals and ceramics lighter, stronger, and more flexible. It can also enhance the ability of computers to store and process information.
On the diagnostic front, nanotechnology makes it possible to deliver drugs and vaccines directly where they’re needed in the body. For example, the modest Nanopatch, designed in Australia, contains thousands of tiny spiky projections that can be pressed painlessly to the skin and release vaccines to fight infectious diseases.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a science that uses biological components (DNA and proteins) to generate products in fields like food, paper and pulp, textiles, chemicals, and biofuels. It is also used in industrial processes such as reducing pollution.
Today, we see the effects of biotechnology in everything from plant-based “meat” in burgers that “bleed” to laundry detergents with natural enzymes for stain removal and direct-to-consumer genetic ancestry services. Biotechnology has also helped reduce the need for harmful pesticides by creating crops that express anti-pest characteristics, such as the fungus Bacillus thuringiensis.
Molecular medicine, which uses DNA and cells to create targeted treatments for individual patients, and gene therapy are also critical aspects of this field. It also helps with drug discovery, allowing doctors to identify the genes that may cause disease and develop effective therapies.
Digital Health
The field of digital health is experiencing rapid growth as it combines technology with healthcare. It encompasses all the ways that software and hardware can improve health outcomes, such as enabling people to be more conscious of their well-being or to understand themselves on a deeper level.
One way to identify potential health threats is by using digital technologies, such as detecting atrial fibrillation, which can cause stroke and heart failure. This technology is becoming increasingly popular, with companies like Apple developing apps and wearable devices to help detect heart problem symptoms.
These advancements are having a considerable impact on medical research and helping drive the future of medicine. However, some significant barriers still need to be overcome, such as ensuring that digital health tools are safe and effective.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine, or remote care delivered through video conferencing software, has been a significant part of the clinical response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is one of the most prominent facets of personalized healthcare efforts today and will likely be an integral aspect of the future of healthcare in general.
Benefits of telemedicine include the ability for physicians to connect with patients in different locations without worry about pandemic exposure, travel costs, or reworking scheduling requirements. It allows for more frequent check-ins for those with chronic diseases and lessens the need for in-person visits for certain conditions, such as flu season or pregnancy.
Additionally, telemedicine can help occupational and physical therapists observe people in their natural environment to conduct more thorough evaluations of their abilities. It can also improve diabetes management by boosting glycemic control and helping patients feel more confident that they can manage their condition at home.