From Sample to Insight: Technologies Driving the Future of Precision Oncology Assays
The time has come to truly embrace environmental data, not to supplant genomics but rather to augment it. Understanding environmental influences has tremendous potential to clarify—and synergize with—existing genomic information.
precisely measure particulate matter and other potentially toxic substances in the air we breathe. Wearable devices have become ubiquitous and can provide useful, longitudinal information about individuals’ vital signs and health habits, as well as how much time a person spends near sources of pollution. More advanced technologies have provided never- before-seen insights into the temporal dynamics of our physiology by mapping molecules at hundreds of time points. These technologies are lasers that expel molecules along the growth rings in tissues like the scalp, hair, and teeth (similar to the annual rings of a tree). The resultant datasets are massive in the range of different types of molecules that can be measured and in the number of time points in a person’s life that are captured (hundreds to thousands). These technologies are ushering in a new era of temporal biomarkers that allow clinicians and scientists
to move away from a static to a dynamic view of human physiology. As powerful as these developments are, they need a technological overlay to make the data action- able—big data and artificial intelligence (AI). With their incredible predictive potential and ability to harness huge datasets, machine learning, and other AI approaches can combine multiple data streams to produce precise conclusions. These capabilities could provide a new window into disease. By combining genomic and environ- mental biomarkers, researchers and clinicians can develop sophisticated disease signatures to rapidly diagnose and treat ASD, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, and possibly many other conditions where a static, gene-centric view of human physiology hasn’t moved the needle much.
Manish Arora, PhD, is founder and CEO of LinusBio.
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