A Roadmap for Personalized Medicine: the findings of the IC2PerMed Project

Abstract

Personalized medicine (PM) tailors prevention and treatment to individuals based on their unique characteristics. It can improve health outcomes and healthcare sustainability by optimizing resource allocation. The European Union (EU) and China both prioritize PM. The IC2PerMed project aims to facilitate collaboration by developing a PM roadmap. This paper presents the main project’s output, a roadmap for implementing PM in the EU and China, promoting best practice exchange, and addressing potential barriers. We assessed PM in the EU and China by mapping policies, programs, funding mechanisms, and health ecosystems. Three Delphi surveys highlighted 65 priorities, which were synthesized into actions. The study identifies priorities to unlock PM's potential for healthcare transformation and better public health. The roadmap includes structural actions, like enhancing health literacy, fostering intersectoral and international collaboration, continuously reviewing technologies, and facilitating innovation market entry through needs assessment and Health Technology Assessment. Data interoperability and shared standards are critical for creating international platforms, and ethical, social, and regulatory considerations are universal in PM processes. A shared action plan can guide health policy and help policymakers understand the interconnection between healthcare, the economy, and society. By supporting international projects and investing in research and innovation, stakeholders can advance global healthcare.