Genomic Medicine and the Bioeconomy: Innovation for a Better World

The Human Genome Project has revolutionized the field of life sciences and created new biological data and dramatic breakthroughs in gene sequencing technologies.

Applications for genomic medicine are now developing at a rapid speed. In addition to the medical community, potential applications involve many stakeholders, from government and regulatory agencies to the investor community to those focusing on science and technology as key drivers of economic development. Convergence of technologies — as in the case of synthetic biology — are resulting in the development of initial applications to meet global challenges, including health care, food and energy production, and the generation of new raw materials such as bioplastics, cosmetics, and lubricants, among many others. Current investment in the Human Genome Project shows that every dollar invested yields $140 in return, demonstrating the potential impact of genomics to the economy. Moreover, a recent report indicates that US federal investment in the genomic revolution has contributed to a total economic output of nearly $1 trillion.

This program will explore the implications of this rapid development in genomic medicine on the bioeconomy of countries around the world. It will review examples of applications, from genetic risk prediction to implications for public health pharmacogenomics and the economy, and how genetics will change the practice of medicine and global disease control.