Research summary
Precision medicine is an innovative approach that takes into account individual differences in patients’ genes, environments and lifestyles. In contrast to a one-size-fits-all approach, it has the potential to allow doctors to predict more accurately which treatment and prevention strategies for a particular disease will work in which groups of people.
As Canada Research Chair in Metabolomics and Precision Medicine, Dr. David Wishart is developing new approaches to better integrate metabolomics (the study of tiny molecules in our bodies called metabolites) with precision medicine. He and his research team are using artificial intelligence to detect and measure more metabolites in order to support clearer diagnoses of various diseases. They are also developing portable point-of-care metabolomic devices for use in clinics and applying the metabolomics methods they develop to explore new products made from traditional medicinal plants and foods that could be tailored to meet various health needs.