Structural racism in precision medicine: leaving no one behind

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Public Health
• Health Equity

Background:

• Precision medicine (PM) offers individualized healthcare but risks exacerbating health inequalities, particularly between ethnoracial groups.
• Structural racism is an under-recognized factor that can negatively influence PM initiatives and perpetuate health disparities.
• Awareness of structural racism's impact is vital to prevent PM from reinforcing existing inequalities and eroding trust among minority groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze how structural racism affects the implementation of precision medicine.
• To identify key points in the PM process where bias can be introduced.
• To propose interventions to ensure PM promotes social and racial justice.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of three critical nodes in the PM process flow: data collection, data integration, and outcome delivery.
• Examination of how structural racism influences each node.
• Formulation of potential actions to mitigate negative impacts.

Main Results:

• Structural racism can introduce bias at the data collection stage through initial healthcare encounters.
• Biased health data from minority groups can be integrated into PM initiatives.
• Structural racism can influence the final deliverables of PM, potentially disadvantaging minority groups.

Conclusions:

• Structural racism's impact on PM is a significant concern that cannot be ignored.
• PM initiatives must proactively address discriminatory effects on minority groups.
• Acknowledging and discussing implicit racial biases and trust issues is essential for implementing effective interventions.