New TRANSPERS study teams up with leading experts to identify evidence gaps in genomic medicine that comparative effectiveness research can address

For genomic medicine/precision medicine to fulfill its potential, it must be (1) evidence-based and (2) consider a full range of patient outcomes. Does the literature to date suggest that these objectives have been met? TRANSPERS and leading experts from multiple institutions address these questions in an article published today in Genetics in Medicine. This is the first study that uses a systematic structured literature review, combined with expert input, to provide an overarching assessment of comparative effectiveness research for genomic medicine. We found that all included reviews (N=21) identified potentially important clinical applications of the genomic medicine interventions, but most had significant methodological weaknesses, there were few studies of conditions other than cancer, and there were limited analysis of a broad range of patient-centered outcomes.

Our findings can inform decisions about where to focus future research activities and policy initiatives by identifying conditions, tests, and interventions where comparative effectiveness questions may be appropriate for study and limitations of prior research that could be addressed.