A Portrait of Personalized Medicine

Precision medicine, also known as personalized or individualized medicine, is based on one simple but profound idea: the biological story of every individual is distinct. Using genomics (the study of DNA) and data science, researchers now understand that personalized healthcare must consider both the genes passed down through generations and the life lived in between. The rapidly evolving field offers the possibility of empowering clinicians with the ability to tailor treatments to the genetic and environmental makeup of each patient. Our growing understanding of genomics offers patients additional hope that many answers remain to be discovered.

The Zimmermann Laboratory, housed within the Mellowes Center for Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, stands at the forefront of this pursuit. The lab integrates genomics, protein structural modeling, and multi-omics data to interpret the mechanisms behind heritable and non-heritable disorders, from rare causes of immune and neurodevelopmental dysfunction to cancer predisposition. As datasets expand, it becomes clear that every individual has distinct genetic markers – their own personal blueprint, of sorts. Understanding these one-of-a-kind variations is essential, as a single variant can hold the key to diagnosis and treatment. Through this multidisciplinary approach and the development of powerful computational tools, the Zimmermann Lab is weaving new threads into the tapestry of precision medicine that promises to transform patient care.

Artist Rosy Petri explored the intersection of genetics, ancestry, and environment through the intimate ritual of haircare. In her piece, “Wash Day,” a grandmother, mother, and daughter are seen seated together in a living room, their generational bond an analogy for the passing on of genetic information. Hand-dyed indigo textiles, cyanotype “blueprint” fabrics exposed to sunlight, and imprints of leaves from the artist’s own surroundings remind us that our genetic blueprints (measured using genomics) do not unfold in isolation from our environment, but rather in continuous dialogue with it. Just as knowledge and rituals pass through generations of hands, so, too, does our genetic legacy intermingle with experience to create something completely unique.