2013 – Foresight in medicine, Washington USA

December 13th, 2013
Symposium at the Embassy of Italy - Washington
"I Am Not My Body. I Am My Mind"
in memory of Rita Levi-Montalcini
Foresight in medicine: research induced society changes in the next decade

The symposium hosts a debate among scientists, doctors, policy makers and epistemologists aimed at identifying forthcoming medical research developments likely to impact on society in the next ten years.
Personalized (or precision) medicine is the changing paradigm and will reshape service contents and delivery modalities. The main clinical areas where major progress is expected are cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, rare diseases, dysmetabolic and endocrine system related diseases.
Progress in imaging, the application of nanotechnologies, the use of robotics, wired environments and telematics, portable devices, stem cells and new materials will make personalized medicine feasible and affordable. At the same time, epigenetics, pharmacogenomics, synthetic biology will contribute extensively to change further medicine and its social aspects, and will need to be regulated by a new bioethical approach.
Prof. Alessandro Vercelli, NICO, is one of panel members of Session 2:
Focal clinical areas where major progress is expected are cancer, neuro-degenerative disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, rare diseases, dysmetabolic and endocrine system related diseases.
How science and technology will impact on diseases, their prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation?
What will be patients' life expectancy? Will there be an impact on survival quality? Will palliative care improve?
And how will the health systems cope with an ageing and fragile population?

Symposium program