The three horizons model applied to medical science

Area of Science:

• Medical innovation and health services research

Background:

• The three horizons model provides a strategic framework for managing innovation.
• In medical science, these horizons represent evolving paradigms for clinical knowledge and practice.
• Technological advancements can significantly disrupt established medical paradigms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the application of the three horizons model in medical science.
• To delineate the characteristics and implications of each horizon in healthcare innovation.
• To highlight how new technologies drive paradigm shifts in medicine.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual framework analysis of the three horizons model applied to medicine.
• Review of examples illustrating each horizon: evidence-based medicine (Horizon 1), real-world evidence (Horizon 2), and precision medicine (Horizon 3).
• Discussion of technological influences, such as artificial intelligence, on medical innovation.

Main Results:

• Horizon 1 (evidence-based medicine) focuses on continuous improvement, exemplified by methodologies like GRADE and the discontinuation of harmful practices.
• Horizon 2 (real-world evidence) leverages new capabilities from innovation for pragmatic trials, showing drug efficacy in specific patient groups.
• Horizon 3 (precision medicine) represents disruptive innovation, enabled by AI, leading to personalized treatments and predictive models for conditions like epilepsy and breast cancer.

Conclusions:

• The three horizons model effectively structures medical innovation, from refining current practices to embracing disruptive technologies.
• Each horizon signifies a distinct phase in the evolution of clinical knowledge and patient care.
• Embracing this model facilitates the integration of advanced technologies and data-driven approaches for improved health outcomes.