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Dr. Shawn Murphy explores the transformative impact of data-driven precision medicine and AI
Precision medicine, driven by advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), is revolutionising healthcare by tailoring treatments to individual patients' unique biological profiles and responses.
“We want to understand why certain people respond the way they do to different kinds of treatments and operations,” says Dr. Shawn Murphy, Chief Research Information Officer for Mass General Brigham. “If you take that to the limit, we call that precision medicine.”
Dr. Murphy’s career is a testament to this mission. He developed the Research Patient Data Registry (RPDR), a vital resource for over 4,000 researchers, providing access to clinical data from 7 million patients. Additionally, he led the creation of the Integrating Biology and the Bedside (i2b2) platform, which integrates medical records and bioinformatics data, now used in over 300 hospitals worldwide. His pioneering work is revolutionizing clinical research and advancing personalized medicine.
We want to understand why certain people respond the way they do to different kinds of treatments and operations. If you take that to the limit, we call that precision medicine.
In a recent interview, Dr. Murphy explores the innovations and future prospects in precision medicine and healthcare informatics.
Shedding light on the evolving field of precision medicine and emphasizing its significance in tailoring treatments to individual patients, Dr. Murphy says: "People respond differently to treatments and surgeries, and our goal in research is to understand these variations." To achieve this, researchers conduct large-scale studies, utilizing medical records to identify suitable candidates for research. "We can follow a person's history through their medical record and see how they responded to treatments before," Dr. Murphy elaborates.
This method, known as an in-silico study, uses algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze medical records and derive insights without traditional clinical trials. "We've capitalized on medical records in ways we never could before, creating digital twins (DTs) to understand and improve outcomes,” says Dr Murphy.
Real-world applications
Dr Murphy highlights two compelling examples of precision medicine in action. First, he discusses the risks associated with certain heart medications. "Some drugs, like certain kinds of antidepressants, can slow down the heart's electrical pathways, which is dangerous for people with heart disease," he notes.
Researchers used medical record data to investigate similar drugs without a black box warning and found they also posed risks. "We collected data from thousands of patients and submitted our findings to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), leading to a black box warning for these medicines as well."
In another instance, Dr. Murphy describes using MRI data to assess potential brain damage in newborns. "A baby's brain changes rapidly, making it hard to know what's normal," he says. By averaging thousands of MRIs from healthy babies, researchers created a benchmark to compare against those who experienced trauma during birth. "This allows us to predict whether a child might need extra help post-birth or reassure parents their baby is fine."
The role of AI and data in healthcare
Looking to the future, Dr. Murphy envisions a greater integration of data and AI in healthcare. "We're collecting more data from medical records and various sensors, including wearable devices," he explains. This data can be overwhelming, but advanced AI algorithms help harmonize it, creating more accurate digital twins (DTs). "Understanding a patient's complete physiology and mental state allows for more precise studies and better outcomes."
Dr. Murphy underscores the importance of combining genomics with other data to improve clinical trials. "Genomics tells us about a person's gene profile and how it affects their response to treatments," he says. This information is crucial for cancer care, where knowing the genes of a tumor helps chemotherapy target the cancer effectively. "Future clinical trials will be more precise, following the tumor's evolution and adjusting treatments to ultimately eliminate it."
Global collaboration and data privacy
In the context of global healthcare, Dr. Murphy stresses the need for careful handling of data across borders. "Data privacy is paramount, and each country has its own policies," he says. Instead of transferring data, we prefer to bring our experience and knowledge to other countries, working within their systems. "This federated network approach ensures data remains secure while enabling global collaboration."
Dr. Murphy sees great potential for growth in the UAE's healthcare sector, particularly in AI development. "The UAE has made incredible strides in artificial intelligence," he remarks. He advocates for continued participation in international AI and biomedical informatics societies. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of precision diagnostics, which are crucial for accurate diagnoses and treatments. "Enhancing diagnostic capabilities in the UAE is crucial for the advancement of precision medicine, paving the way for more accurate and personalized treatment."
Dr. Murphy's insights illuminate the transformative potential of precision medicine and AI in healthcare, promising a future where treatments are more personalized and effective, ultimately improving patient outcomes globally.
