Precision Medicine Dream Takes Major Step Forward with NIH's Collaborative Framework

Recently, as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released its advisory report on the “Collaborative Framework for Precision Medicine,” Dr. Francis S. Collins, Director of the NIH and a proponent of “precision medicine,” also published an article outlining how his vision for precision medicine has taken another significant step forward. This article is translated from his open letter, with the translator’s personal insights included for sharing with readers.

Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Dr. Francis S. Collins

(Internationally renowned geneticist and genomics expert, who led the Global Human Genome Project, etc.Since 2008, has served as the Director of the NIH, vigorously promoting epochal grand initiatives in the life sciences, including translational medicine, precision medicine, and the BRAIN Initiative.

In 2004, I published a paper in Nature, hoping that the U.S. biomedical community would track the various factors influencing health and disease and establish a large-scale, longitudinal, long-term collaborative research initiative. However, it drew widespread skepticism, with few recognizing its significance. Indeed, at that time, the U.S. scientific community and relevant institutions were neither prepared nor aware of the necessity for such extensive and intricate collaborative research efforts.

Time flies, and before we knew it, 2015 had arrived! I am thrilled to witness this moment—a time when the United States, as a nation and society as a whole, has never been more focused on health or more actively engaged in collaborative medical research. Every member of society now has access to widely adopted personal electronic health records; the cost of genetic testing has dropped significantly to affordable levels; digital information science has become more mature and practical; and public health applications have fully entered the mobile era! Like a constellation of shining stars, all conditions are ripe for the ambitious vision of “Precision Medicine”—indeed, it is time to set sail!

On January 20 of this year, President Obama, in his State of the Union Address to Congress, formally proposed on behalf of the U.S. life sciences community the launch of the “Precision Medicine” Initiative. Its aim is to usher in a new era of medical science by fostering collaborative research, applying innovative technologies, and implementing supportive policies. He called upon all scientific researchers, public health agencies, and healthcare providers to join forces in advancing the field of “Precision Medicine.”

Under the “Precision Medicine” initiative proposed by President Obama, numerous core components and the responsibilities and obligations of federal agencies were outlined. As the largest federal agency for life sciences research and funding management, the NIH assumes two key responsibilities: first, to accelerate advancements in cancer genomics, pioneering innovative approaches to clarify the individual relevance of various DNA alterations in cancers, thereby enabling the determination of personalized, precise treatment plans for patients; second, to design a long-term program for tracking and studying diseases. This program has reached a turning point and is now progressing in the right direction.

Today, the Working Group of the NIH Director’s Advisory Committee formally submitted its recommendations on recruiting one million or more participants for the Precision Medicine Initiative Cohort Program, aimed at implementing clinical “precision medicine” for diseases. The “Precision Medicine” initiative championed by President Obama will become the most extensive and powerful resource to support researchers in conducting comprehensive studies on various diseases and health issues. This includes precision treatments for a wide range of known cancers, extending to effective therapies for other conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, and mental disorders—including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia—as well as other rare diseases. Most importantly, this collaborative research mechanism focuses not only on exploring the diseases themselves but also provides each participant with greater and better opportunities to maintain their health and well-being. Likewise, the Precision Medicine Initiative Cohort Program will fundamentally transform the current model of scientific research. Participants in the research project will no longer be merely subjects; they will become research partners, with the opportunity to access the data and results of the studies in which they participate.

In summary, we aim to maximize this collaborative research mechanism to transform medical and research practices, ultimately enabling the American people to lead healthier and happier lives. I am thrilled to witness my dream beginning to be realized step by step today. I also hope that this report will help everyone gain a deeper understanding of precision medicine and collaborative research partnerships—because that is your dream as well!

Reflections from Teacher Shi Zhanxiang——

As Dr. Francis S. Collins noted, the vision of “precision medicine” not only inspires scientists, clinicians, and public health administrators engaged in biological and medical research, but also underscores the arduous journey of exploring scientific truth. As the adage goes, “Dreams are idealistic, but reality is stark.” Upon reflection, we increasingly recognize an urgent need to transform the current paradigm of medical research by embracing the concept that all research subjects are both participants and collaborative partners. This insight embodies the essence of scientific literacy. Although China possesses unique clinical research resources, including a wide spectrum of diseases and a large patient population, outdated mindsets and lagging research methodologies have often led to unsatisfactory scientific innovation and outcomes, sometimes even producing counterproductive results such as retractions due to academic misconduct and data falsification. If we can leverage the current domestic enthusiasm for “precision medicine” to achieve tangible progress, it will be a great blessing to the general public.

To browse more of Professor Shi Zhanxiang’s featured articles, please clickDr. Shi Zhanxiang’s Column: Article Index

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