Understanding the NIH 4 Ps of Medicine

Excerpt from: FY 2009 Director's Budget Request Statement, !S! Department of "ea#t$
and "uman Ser%ices, &ationa# 'nstitutes of "ea#t$, Fisca# Year 2009 Budget Request
(itness appearing )efore t$e "ouse Su)committee on *a)or+""S+Education ,ppropriations
++ E#ias ,! -er$ouni, .!D!, Director, &ationa# 'nstitutes of "ea#t$
.arc$ /, 2000 1$ttp:22333!ni$!go%2strategic%ision!$tm 4
This shift from a late curative paradigm to an early preemptive one is becoming
increasingly possible, thanks to the avalanche of recent discoveries funded by NIH. For
example, in !!, "hen I became NIH #irector, "e kne" of one important gene
abnormality in type diabetes. In the last year alone, researchers uncovered $ ne" genes
or genetic regions that provide ne" clues to ho" this disease may develop. %emarkably, I
no" receive about one report a "eek of a significant discovery in the field of genomics.
%ecent discoveries apply to a broad spectrum of chronic diseases, ranging from mental
disorders to autism. &e no" can see a clear path to "hat "e call 'the 4 Ps of Medicine'(
medicine that "ill be more Predictive, Personalized, Preemptive, and Participatory.
To reach these key long)term goals, NIH is strategically investing in research to further our
understanding of the fundamental causes of diseases at their earliest molecular stages. *ut
individuals respond differently to environmental conditions, according to their genetic
endo"ment and their o"n behavior. In the future, research "ill allo" us to predict ho",
"hen, and in "hom a disease "ill develop. &e can envision a time "hen "e "ill be able to
precisely target treatment on a personalized basis to those "ho need it, avoiding
treatment to those "ho do not. +ltimately, this individuali,ed approach "ill allo" us to
preempt disease before it occurs, utili,ing the participation of individuals, communities,
and healthcare providers in a proactive fashion, as early as possible, and throughout the
natural cycle of a disease process.-
,dditiona# Resources:
NIH Fact .heet( #riving the Transformation to /redictive, /ersonali,ed and
/reemptive 0edicine ))
http(11""".nih.gov1about1researchresultsforthepublic1ppps.pdf
NIH #irector2s *udget %e3uest ) Full .tatement and .lides
F4 !!5 6 http(11""".nih.gov1about1director1budgetre3uest1fy!!5directorssenatebudgetre3uest.htm
F4 !!7 6 http(11""".nih.gov1about1director1budgetre3uest1fy!!7directorsbudgetre3uest.htm
F4 !!$ 6 http(11""".nih.gov1about1director1budgetre3uest1fy!!$directorsbudgetre3uest.htm
8 9ision For Transforming 0edicine in the :
st
;entury <#r. =lias >erhouni slides? 6
http(11""".nih.gov1about1director1slides1vision.pdf <slides :@)A focus on the A /2s?