Joan Scott,
Deputy Director, Genetics and Public Policy Center, Johns Hopkins University
Craig Venter,
Founder and President, J. Craig Venter Institute; Co-Founder and CEO, Synthetic Genomics Inc.
Moderator:
Margaret Anderson, Chief Operating Officer, FasterCures / The Center for Accelerating Medical Solutions
Joan Scott of the Johns Hopkins University Genetics and Public Policy Center listens intently as Craig Venter describes the decoding of his own DNA.
Acclaimed scientist Craig Venter began the panel by describing the latest genomic discoveries, including the breakthrough of successfully sequencing his own DNA. "We are far more individualistic" than Venter expected, even though he noted that "we are only 5-6 percent different from chimps," our closest ancestors. Venter emphasized the need to understand genetic variations among individuals as a key to improving health and wellness.
Moderator Margaret Anderson of FasterCures asked Venter about his reaction to seeing his own genome decoded. "Everything surprised me," he responded. Venter emphasized that it is a naïve to look at single genes to predict diseases; it is essential to look at the whole genome along with how the environment affects genetic predispositions.
Joan Scott of the Genetics and Public Policy Center echoed Venter's sentiments: "It is not just about genes. It is also about gene-environment interaction." She then introduced the topic of the current economics behind genetic testing, noting that it is still expensive to adopt these tests on a large scale. Scott also mentioned the need to improve how we use and apply notions resulting from genetic information: "Transitional research [needs] to connect all the dots generated by genetic testing." Finally, she commented that for genomics live up to its potential for improving our health, it will be necessary to change the health-care infrastructure to account for the costs and benefits of genomics.
Ryan Dow of Stark Investments predicted a strong future for the genomics industry. "People want to know," he commented. Dow believes that the market for genetic testing is on the verge of explosive growth, and even pharmaceutical companies will increase their focus on genetic testing. He also cautioned against the potential for consumer deception. Dow noted that the health-care infrastructure needs to change, including increased training for health-care professionals in this exciting new field.
Mari Baker of Navigenics, a company that recently started to perform whole genome scanning to look at thousands of DNA sequence variations (SNPs), commented on the trends of the industry, noting that "the number of SNPs per dollar is doubling every month." Navigenics provides genetic testing for consumers that screens for disease risk, and Baker noted that the company is working with the Personalized Medicine Coalition to define standards for this industry. Patients can utilize this service as an early screening tool for diseases that might otherwise go undetected in regular medical exams. Additionally, having access to genetic information allows individuals to modify their behaviors to improve their health and wellness. "People have to engage and take responsibility for their health," Baker commented.
Venter noted that understanding our own genomes will allow "the democratization of medicine." The challenge will be to educate the health-care work force to understand the value of genomic tools. "The information needs to be more complete and currently that's not in place," said Venter.
The panel closed by addressing the need for private funding to enable the sequencing for thousands of genomes. Such efforts will provide enough data to allow scientists to associate genomic information with traits of diseases. Baker predicted that soon genetic information "will become integrated in what we do in our daily lives."
Global Conference 2013
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, philanthropist Bill Gates and Strive Masiyiwa of Econet Wireless discuss advancing prosperity in Africa.
