Today marks the 1 year anniversary of the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine opening the proverbial doors to begin seeing patients in the Individualized Medicine Clinic (IM Clinic). The opening of the IM Clinic was a collaborative effort across multiple departments across the three campuses of Mayo Clinic. The two Service Lines, Advanced Cancer Patients and Diagnostic Odyssey Patients (those with rare or undiagnosed diseases), have become available at all three campuses over the course of the last year, and a third Service Line is being created to build clinical utility through preventative exome/genome information.

The IM Clinic offers next-gen medicine to patients, incorporating the science and practice of genomics and gene sequencing in personalized care. The team of scientists and physicians integrates whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing into patient care, creating a model of precision medicine that helps us understand each patient and his or her disease at the most fundamental level.

Patients first meet with a disease specialist to discuss their unique case, and blood/tissue is drawn to extract DNA for sequencing. Genetic counselors assist patients in understanding the sequencing process and possible implications of results, as well as work with them to determine how much genetic information they want to know before their DNA sequence is analyzed. After the medical team has evaluated the sequencing results, a genetic counselor and physician meet with the patient to discuss the findings and, when possible, make new treatment and lifestyle decisions.

To see how the IM Clinic has helped patients, watch the video below, or head over to our YouTube Playlist.

Tags: Advanced Cancer, cancer, center for individualized medicine, DNA, exome, genome, genomics, IM Clinic, individualized medicine, Individualized Medicine Clinic, rare disease, Uncategorized, undiagnosed disease