Landmark precision medicine database to launch

NIH launches its landmark 1M-person precision medicine database next month, and NIH Director Francis Collins ran a Reddit AMA for the occasion. He shared his view on consumer DNA testing kits, a desire for more computational biologists, and respect for the film Gattaca’s cautionary depiction of genomic advances. But his audience voiced wariness of privacy breaches despite NIH’s promise to de-identify data and pushed on the tenuousness of GINA in protecting their genetic rights, illuminating the realities of the state of genomics. The database collects DNA, as well as lifestyle and environmental data.

Headlines

The Roots Of Today’s Most Promising Genetic Technologies
Genomics is booming. But what can consumers believe from results? (STAT)

How Big Data Is Fueling Omada's War On Diabetes
The types of data that make the program so successful (Fortune)

Healthcare Is In 'An Economic Boom'; It's Time To Plan For Disruption
Hospitals should distinguish from competitors, and "make it on Medicare" (Healthcare Finance News)

Nest, French Buyers Rumored To Be Eyeing Nokia's Digital Health Division
Division on the rocks; French government pushing for sale to French company (MobiHealthNews)

Facebook Knows A Ton About Your Health—And Plans To Profit From It
Ethical issues of profiting off health/wellness data (Chicago Tribune)

How Google Plans To Use AI To Reinvent Healthcare
Google probably knows more about you than Facebook (CB Insights)

A Look At One Insurance Startups' Financials
Oscar competitor and newcomer Bright Health is leveraging the individual marketplace (CNBC)

Recent Funding

  • Aetion closed $36M for its platform to leverage real-world evidence in drug development
  • RubiconMD raised $13.8M to improve access to remote specialist consults
  • Medically Home raised $4M to bring hospital services to the home