Prediction and prevention Unraveling the genetic mysteries could benefit patients in a number of ways. Identifying the genes would allow prediction and then you would be able to do something more than therapy, Dr. Concannon explains. We treat juvenile diabetes patients by replacing insulin, but many will eventually develop complications. It would be better if we knew who s going to get the disease and do something to prevent or delay onset. It s the same with adult onset.
Many patients are undiagnosed.
But we don t have those tools right now. Therapy also could be improved if we knew how these diseases develop and that understanding is only going to come when we understand how one becomes susceptible. That s a long term goal. These are very rare diseases, Dr. Concannon explains, perhaps one in a million patients so rare that many physicians will never see a case in their lifetimes. Research into these diseases could make radiation therapy more effective for cancer patients.