Medicine is undergoing radical transformations as it moves away from population-based approaches and toward personalized care. Many of these changes rely on detailed molecular data (DNA and protein sequences) as well as complex personal information. The paradigm of precision medicine refers to the use of personalized approaches combined with molecular data insights to make clinical decisions that are tailored to individual patients.
Precision medicine, also known as personalized medicine, is based on the premise that “one size does not fit all” – every individual is unique in terms of genetic makeup, environment, and lifestyle. Precision medicine considers personal factors in disease diagnosis and treatment. These include factors beyond genetics, such as diet and exercise habits. It could even refer to environmental factors one is exposed to now or was as a child, such as the air and water quality of the area one lives in. The potential benefits of this approach include more accurate diagnosis and treatments, safer drug prescription, better disease prevention, and, as a result, lower healthcare costs.
The interplay between molecular and personal data is critical for precision medicine. Molecular data allows for a more in-depth understanding of the precise, and yet complex, biological mechanisms underlying many clinical symptoms. Personal data, based on an individual’s background, lifestyle, and environment, provides context for biological variation. As a result, bioinformatics is used to identify precise data signals in the context of personal factors and share these insights with physicians to deliver safer and more effective disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies. Particularly, bioinformatics aids in analyzing data from genome sequencing or microarray gene expression analysis in search of mutations or gene variants that could affect a patient’s response to a specific drug or change the disease prognosis. This has increased the demand for bioinformaticians in the advancement of areas such as oncology, non-invasive genetic testing, rare genetic diseases, etc.
If you intend to pursue a career in bioinformatics, first of all, you must have strong critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, analytical reasoning, and advanced mathematical skills. You would also need to be proficient in the following technical skills: [1] statistical skills, [2] programming skills, [4] general biology knowledge, [5] knowledge of genomics and genetics, [6] database management, [7] data mining and machine learning.
To start a career as a bioinformatician in the health sector, you will likely need at least a Master’s degree to be competitive. There are several undergraduate programs in bioinformatics and related interdisciplinary fields available. However, graduate applicants do not need to have a BSc in bioinformatics or a related field; they may have bachelor’s degrees in life sciences or computer science. Graduate study in bioinformatics requires coursework in molecular biology, genetics, chemistry, computer programming, and statistics, regardless of the applicant’s first degree.
Career opportunities in bioinformatics have grown in demand since the introduction of information technology in molecular biology. Professionals in this field can work in a variety of settings, including the pharmaceutical industry, biomedical organizations, biotechnology, research institutions, hospitals, and even non-governmental organizations. They may also be able to find employment in the biomedical product manufacturing industries. After completing the necessary training in the field, there are several career options to consider, given that bioinformaticians have a unique skill set that makes them attractive to companies. At a time when a bioinformatician’s skillset is increasing in demand for a variety of fields, consider whether this career may be right for you.
