Science First: The Future of Personalized Medicine in Psychiatry – the Special Role of Genes & Phenotypes

The tailoring of medical decisions, practices, and therapeutic interventions to individual patients based upon their predicted response or risk of disease/illness will be an essential component of future healthcare practice. This will require a precise understanding of molecular & cellular basis of their clinical disorder. It will necessitate the development of biomarkers to define illness subtypes and primary outcome measures will be needed for clinical trials comprised of symptom rating scales that are less susceptible to rater and participant bias. In the context of Mood disorders, which are among the most common medical disorder with lifetime prevalence rates ranging from 14% to 16% for major depressive disorder (MDD), the WHO ranks MDD as the highest global cause of “years of life lost due to illness or disability” on a population basis, and projects that in 2030 MDD also will rank first in global disease burden, as measured in Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Mood disorders also are associated with elevated mortality rates, especially due to suicide and cardiovascular disease.

Our ultimate goal is to move therapeutic interventions to earlier stages of illness, modify disease course, and improve prognosis. The success of such disease interception strategy will depend on identifying early or prodromal disease detection in high risk populations and affords a vision toward a world without disease.

Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS (JLABS) is bringing in the experts from across neuroscience to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the field. Hear from folks who are leading the science, investing in the technology, and those who bring a broad perspective on the future of healthcare.

Agenda:
3:00 PM | Registration Opens and Networking
3:15 PM | Presentations
4:15 PM | Panel Discussion
5:00 PM | Networking Reception
6:00 PM | Program Close

Speakers:
Lynda Chin | Assoc Vice Chancellor and Chief Innovation Officer, The University of Texas System
Jimmy Holder | Child Neurologist, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital
Thomas Kosten | Professor of Psychiatry, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine
Consuelo Walss-Bass | Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
[moderator] Guy Seabrook | Vice President, Neuroscience Innovation, J&J Innovation

About the Science First series:
The purpose of the Science First series, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS, is to bring together top experts to explore a pressing topic in their scientific field. It is a chance for local scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs to present and dialogue on new discoveries, advancing techniques, and other cutting-edge science themes.