Dr. Euan Ashley, Stanford professor of medicine and genetics, brings the breakthroughs of precision medicine to life through the real diagnostic journeys of his patients and the tireless efforts of his fellow doctors and scientists as they hunt to prevent, predict, and beat disease.
The son of a Scottish physician, Dr. Ashley displays an infectious enthusiasm for medicine throughout his chronicle, and he delights in side-journeys into the history of technologies like the electrocardiogram and the defibrillator ... Dr. Ashley’s ardent positivity propels his story though at times threatens to overtake it ... Still, as a physician at the cutting edge of the genomics revolution, Dr. Ashley is aware—more acutely than most—of the limitations of science. He shares the stories of brave patients like Bertrand Might, whose parents worked heroically to establish a diagnosis, cultivate a community and search for a cure ... As much as Dr. Ashley cheers the remarkable progress of genetic medicine over the past two decades, and believes more wondrous advances are on the way, the patients at the center of his world keep him grounded, reminding him—and us—how far genetics still has to go.
While the science is impressive and the health-care team devoted, the patients are the heroes ... Ashely discusses the NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Network, pharmacogenomics, superhuman mutations, precision medicine, and a molecular autopsy of heart tissue, offering a peek at the promise of genetic therapy now and in the near future.
While Ashley highlights several emotional and moving stories of patients, the title’s primary focus is on the scientific aspect of genetic medical treatment. Readers seeking up-to-date information on genomic science and technology will be richly rewarded ... This engaging, accessible book will appeal to anyone interested in medical ethics, genetic disease, and the use of cutting-edge science and technology within the field of medicine. Recommended for all libraries.
