Not all diseases are the same
Many diseases can be traced back to individual genetic changes. However, there are also numerous diseases that are caused by different genetic alterations (e.g. pancreatic cancer). Causative therapeutic approaches are possible for both types of disease, but differ in their approach and require complex analyses, such as bioinformatic or systems biology methods.
The increasing separation of previously similar disease entities into molecularly differentiable subgroups is leading to a reorientation in the development of drugs. This type of diagnostics and therapy requires expertise from various specialisms and the use of special technologies. This cannot be achieved by individual hospitals or institutes. For this reason, the necessary diagnostics and therapy are carried out at large centres, such as university hospitals with a corresponding spectrum of specialisations, in cooperation with their partners (e.g. oncological practices and clinics).
Expertise to the power of 4 in Baden-Württemberg
In order to further develop personalised medicine in the state, four Centres for Personalised Medicine (ZPM) have been established as the basis for a comprehensive, regionally coordinated care structure. The ZPMs at the university hospitals in Tübingen, Heidelberg, Freiburg and Ulm were designated by the State Hospital Committee on 15 November 2019 (see Fig. 1). The structure of these centres is unique in Germany. The centres focus on innovative, targeted diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for patients with cancer; an expansion to other entities, such as infectious diseases, is planned.
The data collected will be stored in a cloud (bwHealthCloud) and will also be used for research purposes. The PM portal will serve as an anchor in standard care for the benefit of patients. The treatment centres will also be designed to take on a control function. In the future, the concept will gradually be transferred to the entire healthcare centre of Baden-Württemberg in order to make quality-assured treatment equally accessible to all patients in the state.
