Dr. Tamara Sunbul, from Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, discussed the transformative potential of gene editing, notably CRISPR-Cas9, in healthcare. She highlighted its role in genotyping and digital diagnostics, including rapid disease detection methods like SHERLOCK and DETECTR. Gene editing is also driving drug discovery and advancing therapies for various conditions, from blood disorders to cancer and infectious diseases. Dr. Sunbul cautioned about ethical and scientific complexities, emphasizing the long-lasting impact on future generations, and urging careful consideration in harnessing this groundbreaking technology.
Dr. Tamara Sunbul, the Medical Director of Clinical Informatics at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, delivered a thought-provoking keynote address titled “A New Era for Medicine: Digital Diagnostics and Therapeutics,” where she delved into the transformative potential of gene editing in healthcare. While she showcased the promising prospects of gene editing, she also sounded a cautionary note regarding the uncertainties associated with this cutting-edge field.
In her address, Dr. Sunbul emphasized the evolving landscape of genotyping, highlighting the increasing reliance on longitudinal data collection in the future of healthcare. She foresaw a time when our understanding of genetics would be informed by continuous data gathering and analysis.
One of the challenges faced in contemporary medicine is the variability in patient responses to prescribed medications. Dr. Sunbul pointed out that even when two individuals receive the same treatment, their reactions can differ significantly. She stressed the need for digital technologies, such as gene editing, to help detect and address these variations in treatment outcomes.
At the forefront of gene editing innovations stands CRISPR-Cas9, often likened to precision “genetic scissors.” This technology enables the precise modification of DNA sequences by cutting at specific sites and inserting or deleting gene sequences, thereby altering the DNA code. Dr. Sunbul highlighted that beyond its applications in agriculture and bioenergy, CRISPR holds immense promise in the realm of digital diagnostics and therapeutics.
In the context of digital diagnostics, she shared examples of recent breakthroughs like the SHERLOCK and DETECTR methods, which allow rapid detection of infectious diseases, including the formidable COVID-19. Moreover, gene editing has become an integral part of the drug discovery process, with companies like Atomwise, Deep Genomics, and Valo pioneering these efforts.
Gene editing’s impact extends to the advancement of cell and gene therapies across a wide spectrum of conditions. These include blood disorders such as thalassemia, sickle cell disease, and hemophilia, as well as complex conditions like Down syndrome, hereditary blindness, cystic fibrosis, Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, and Huntington’s disease. Through CRISPR technology, it has become possible to reprogram a patient’s immune system to target their cancer, combat infections (including HIV, COVID-19, flu, malaria, Zika, and antibiotic-resistant strains), and manage chronic diseases such as hypercholesterolemia and type 1 diabetes.
While gene editing holds immense promise, Dr. Sunbul stressed the presence of ethical, legal, and scientific considerations that cannot be overlooked. She cautioned about the potential for errors and unforeseen consequences in gene editing, emphasizing that a single misstep could have severe repercussions for individuals. Furthermore, she highlighted the long-lasting implications of gene editing, as changes made today may affect not only the current generation but also future generations, leading to irreversible genetic alterations. In essence, gene editing represents a profound technological advancement, but one that necessitates careful and thoughtful navigation to maximize its benefits while mitigating risks.
