Australia unlocks potential of personalised medicine with $66 M for genomics research

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The Austrlian government is unlocking the power and potential of personalised medicine with $66 million for genomics research into a number of serious diseases and common chronic conditions.

A total of 25 projects will share in the latest funding to use genomics to improve testing and diagnosis for many diseases, while reducing unnecessary interventions and health care costs.

Researchers will use genetics to:

• Test 500 children with cerebral palsy – the most common but poorly understood cause of physical disability in childhood. 
• Improve diagnosis of patients with rare genetic diseases.
• Test the DNA of 1,000 Parkinson’s disease patients to uncover its genetic causes and create one of the largest registries in the world.
• Test for more rapid diagnosis of epilepsy in infants, for earlier treatment.
• Improve diagnosis of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases.
• Integrate genomics and artificial intelligence to improve the success of IVF.
• Identify high risk glaucoma patients, enabling earlier treatment.
• Improve high blood pressure treatment according to a patient’s genetic profile.

Each of the 25 projects will receive up to $3 million through the Medical Research Future Fund’s (MRFF) $500 million Genomics Health Futures Mission.

“This research will lead to earlier diagnosis of a number of serious diseases and common chronic illnesses, with the promise of earlier treatments that will make a real difference to people’s lives,” said Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care.