Advancing Precision Medicine in Paediatrics: Past, present and future

Area of Science:

• Pharmacogenomics
• Pediatric Therapeutics
• Personalized Medicine

Background:

• Precision Medicine optimizes disease treatment by considering individual genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
• Traditional pediatric drug dosing has primarily focused on weight and gestational age, often overlooking genetic variability.
• Advancements in understanding ontogeny and genetics offer new avenues for applying Precision Medicine in pediatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the application of Precision Medicine principles in the treatment and prevention of diseases in infants, children, and youth.
• To highlight the potential of Precision Medicine to improve drug efficacy and safety in pediatric populations.
• To identify opportunities and challenges in implementing Precision Medicine for children's healthcare.

Main Methods:

• Review of current knowledge on genetic and developmental influences on drug response in children.
• Analysis of the potential benefits of integrating individual variability into pediatric therapeutic decision-making.
• Identification of key areas for future research, advocacy, and collaborative efforts.

Main Results:

• Precision Medicine offers a holistic approach to enhance drug efficacy and safety in pediatric patients.
• Genetic variability and ontogeny are increasingly recognized as crucial factors in pediatric drug therapy.
• Initial implementation of Precision Medicine in children is expected in specific subgroups.

Conclusions:

• Precision Medicine holds significant promise for advancing safe and effective drug therapy in children.
• Addressing challenges, particularly ensuring equity, is crucial for successful implementation.
• Continued research, advocacy, planning, and teamwork are essential to realize the full potential of Precision Medicine in pediatrics.