Precision medicine is currently leading a healthcare
revolution that places citizens at the centre of a discussion
about their own care and wellbeing. This pioneering
Future Experiences project by the Innovation School’s
graduating BDes students examines how cancer care, in
particular, can be tailored to meet the specific needs of
individual patients. It explores the evolving landscape of
cancer treatment and proposes alternative futures that are
innovative, credible, practical and provocative.
The students were asked to develop visions of a future
world in which advances in information technologies,
artificial intelligence and genetic profiling have ushered in
a new era of personalised health. Their projects explore the
potential implications of precision medicine on stakeholders
ranging from patients and their families, to policy makers,
medical professionals and pharmaceutical firms. Key areas
of focus include the shifting relationship between patients
and healthcare providers, the pros and cons of increased
access to our genomic information, and how personal health data should be safely stored and shared.
A collaboration with the University of Glasgow’s
Institute of Cancer Sciences provided direct access to
patients and experts embedded in the current world of
precision medicine and cancer care. The students employed a variety of techniques and methodologies in order to gather information and develop solutions to real-world issues that arose from their research. The diverse range of products, services and experiences they proposed highlights unforeseen opportunities to revolutionise the future of cancer treatment and care in relation to precision medicine.