Unraveling the Mysteries of the Human Genome

Mission in a Minute: Kathryn Phillips, PhD

It’s been little more than a decade since we first unraveled the mysteries of the human genome and we now have the ability to sequence an entire genome quickly. My work focuses on how we can actually use genetics to improve patient outcomes – what we call personalized medicine or precision medicine.

I focus on how personalized medicine can be used to provide high value care while reducing care that doesn’t improve outcomes but only increases costs. I founded and direct a center at UCSF – Center for Translational and Policy Research on Personalized Medicine – that has been addressing these issues for almost 10 years.

We look at:
•        Are the people who most need these new technologies getting them?
•        Should these new technologies be covered by insurers?
•        What is the most efficient way to use these new technologies?
•        Where are there gaps in what we know and how do we close those gaps?

Our goal is to answer these questions so we can provide targeted care specific to the individual while reducing unnecessary costs.