Page 95 - 22-0424

The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand
Volume XI - 2019

Precision Medicine: Preventive aspect

Surakameth Mahasirimongkol 1
Sacarin Bunbanjerdsuk 1

Abstract
The human genome project sequenced the first complete human genome
sequenced in 2002, by product of this international consortium and competition
between public and private entity to sequence human genome, resulting in
the revolution in DNA sequencing technology. The efficient DNA sequencing
technology allow the sequencing of a human genome from 3 million USD in
2002 to 600 USD in 2020. The lower cost of DNA sequencing technology

enabled the utilization of human genome data in the national health services.
The Genomics England program for sequencing 100,000 rare diseases and
cancer patients for the national health services in United Kingdom, is an
international model for implementation of this genomic technology at the
national scale.
Recently, the United stated launched the “precision medicine initiative”
or PMI by President Barack Obama. Based on President Obama's long interest
in using genomics data to revolutionized health care, the national human
genome research institute (NHGRI) proposed the PMI plan to sequence
1 million Americans and study the roles of lifestyles, genetics and
environmental factors that contribute to diseases. The “precision medicine”
term was established in this initiative as the medical process that utilized all
information available to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
in medicine (Collins FS and Varmus H, 2015; Shotelersuk V et al. 2019).
Improving the prevention process is likely to be a more cost-effective approach
when compared with improving the treatment process. Better screening of
diseases as preventive measures would imply the higher return on investment,
a better appeal for government investment.

The preventive measure included the early diagnosis of life-threatening
diseases is important medical and public health interventions. The implication

1 Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand

Surakameth Mahasirimongkol
Sacarin Bunbanjerdsuk 89

11/7/2565 BE 13:30
_22-0424(089-102)9.indd 89 11/7/2565 BE 13:30
_22-0424(089-102)9.indd 89