AJMB Avicenna Journal of Medical Biotechnology 2008-2835 2008-4625 Avicenna Research Institute AJMB-6-191 Editorial Personalized Medicine: A Tailor Made Medicine Akhondzadeh Shahin Ph.D., FBPharmacolS Editor in Chief Oct-Dec 2014 6 4 191 191 Copyright © 2014 Avicenna Research Institute 2014

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<p>In the past, disease diagnosis was based on symptoms that might be indicative of several diseases. Nowadays, diagnosis of some diseases has become more accurate because we are able to test for genes known to be associated with the disease. This method not only clearly identifies the presence of a particular disease; it can also precisely determine the subtype of the disease. Throughout history, the practice of medicine has largely been reactive. Even now days, we have to wait until the onset of diseases and then try to treat or cure them. As we don't fully understand the genetic and environmental factors that cause major diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's and diabetes, our efforts to treat them are often imprecise, unpredictable and ineffective.</p> <p>In addition, the drugs and treatments we devise are tested on broad populations and are prescribed using statistical averages. For example, on average, any given prescription drug now on the market only works for half of those who take it. Anti-depressants are effective in only about 60 percent of those who take them <sup>(<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="CIT0001">1</xref>–<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="CIT0006">6</xref>)</sup>. Personalized medicine is beginning to transform the practice of medicine. Personalized medicine is the tailoring of medical treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient. The approach relies on scientific breakthroughs in our understanding of how a person's unique molecular and genetic profile makes them susceptible to certain diseases. This same research is increasing our ability to predict which medical treatments will be safe and effective for each patient, and which ones will not be. Personalized medicine may be considered an extension of traditional approaches to understanding and treating disease. Personalized medicine has the potential to change the way we think about, identify and manage health problems. It is already having an exciting impact on both clinical research and patient care, and this impact will grow as our understanding and technologies improve.</p> <p> <italic>Shahin Akhondzadeh, Ph.D., FBPharmacolS</italic> </p> <p> <italic>Editor in Chief</italic> </p> </sec> </body> <back> <ref-list> <title>References Akhondzadeh S Jafari S Raisi F Nasehi AA Ghoreishi A Salehi B Clinical trial of adjunctive celecoxib treatment in patients with major depression: a double blind and placebo controlled trial Depress Anxiety 2009 26 7 607 611 Abolfazli R Hosseini M Ghanizadeh A Ghaleiha A Tabrizi M Raznahan M Double-blind randomized parallel-group clinical trial of efficacy of the combination fluoxetine plus modafinil versus fluoxetine plus placebo in the treatment of major depression Depress Anxiety 2011 28 4 297 302 Abbasi SH Hosseini F Modabbernia A Ashrafi M Akhondzadeh S Effect of celecoxib add-on treatment on symptoms and serum IL-6 concentrations in patients with major depressive disorder: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study J Affect Disord 2012 141 2-3 308 314 Sepanjnia K Modabbernia A Ashrafi M Modabbernia MJ Akhondzadeh S Pioglitazone adjunctive therapy for moderate-to-severe major depressive disorder: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial Neuropsychopharmacology 2012 37 9 2093 2100 Khajavi D Farokhnia M Modabbernia A Ashrafi M Abbasi SH Tabrizi M Oral scopolamine augmentation in moderate to severe major depressive disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study J Clin Psychiatry 2012 73 11 1428 1433 Shahmansouri N Farokhnia M Abbasi SH Kassaian SE Noorbala Tafti AA Gougol A A randomized, double-blind, clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of Crocus sativus L. with fluoxetine for improving mild to moderate depression in post percutaneous coronary intervention patients J Affect Disord 2014 155 216 222