International Alliance for Personalized Medicine shared on LinkedIn:
”To Personalize, There Must Be a Person Involved.
Behind every scientific breakthrough, every new diagnostic, every clinical trial and every policy discussion, there is one person who matters most: the patient.
During our recent Oncology Pillar Launch and Hackathon at ASCO in Chicago, we had the opportunity to sit down with clinicians, researchers, policymakers and patient advocates who are helping shape the future of cancer care. While the conversations covered many of the biggest challenges facing Personalized medicine, one message came through again and again: innovation only has value if it ultimately improves the lives of the people it is designed to serve.
As Steven Manobianco Jr. perfectly captured:
“To Personalize, there must be a person involved.”
Personalized medicine is about far more than biomarkers, AI or precision diagnostics. It is about understanding the individual behind the diagnosis, involving patients as partners in decisions, and ensuring their needs, preferences and experiences remain at the centre of care.
But involvement also depends on communication.
As William Gradishar reminds us in this video:
“It doesn’t matter what the topic is. If you’re talking a language that no one understands, you’re not going to resonate with anybody.”
Scientific excellence alone is not enough. If we want patients to participate, trust and benefit from innovation, we must communicate in ways that are clear, meaningful and accessible. Scientists, clinicians and policymakers must also become better storytellers.
Of course, patient engagement is only one part of the challenge. As Marzia Del Re highlights, accessibility, harmonisation and equitable implementation across healthcare systems remain essential if Personalized medicine is to reach everyone who could benefit.
At the International Alliance for Personalized Medicine (IAPM), we believe these challenges are deeply connected. Better science must be matched by better communication, stronger collaboration and a healthcare system designed around people, not just technologies.
Because Personalized medicine begins with one simple principle: to Personalize, there must be a person involved.
Watch some of the key reflections from our Oncology Pillar Launch and Hackathon at ASCO 2026.”
Other articles about IPM on OncoDaily.