Educational and social-ethical issues in the pursuit of molecular medicine

Abstract

Molecular medicine is transforming everyday clinical practice from an empirical art to a rational ortho-molecular science. The prevailing concept in this emerging framework of molecular medicine is a personalized approach to disease prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. In this mini-review, we discuss the educational and social-ethical issues raised by the advances of biomedical research as related to medical practice; outline the implications of molecular medicine for patients, physicians, and researchers; and underline the responsibilities of academia and the pharmaceutical industry to translate the scientific knowledge to a meaningful improvement of the quality of life across all members of society. © 2009 The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.