The world of medicine is constantly evolving, with breakthroughs and advancements reshaping the landscape of healthcare. As a premedical student, you’ll want to stay updated on new developments in medicine in order to better understand where the field you’re aspiring to enter is going. Here’s a look at five recent medical advances that you should be aware of.
CRISPR-Cas9: The Gene-Editing Revolution
CRISPR-Cas9 has been making headlines for its groundbreaking potential in gene editing, even winning the scientists who developed the technique the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Originally discovered as a part of bacterial immune systems, CRISPR refers to “clusters of regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats” within DNA strands. Cas9 means “CRISPR-associated protein 9”, a protein that can be used like “scissors” to precisely edit DNA. This technique could lead to more effective treatments or even cures for genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, and muscular dystrophy.
A small 2024 trial in pediatric patients with congenital blindness showed that CRISPR injections resulted in improvements in vision for many patients. CRISPR-based therapies have also been approved for use in treating certain types of blood disorders. As gene-editing techniques like CRISPR (and those still in development) stretch the boundaries of what’s possible in genetic therapy, there will also be important ethical questions to consider.
Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostic Imaging
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a vital tool in the medical field, especially in diagnostic imaging. According to the authors of a 2023 literature review of studies on AI imaging analysis for lung cancer, “AI [is] a tool that can supplement physicians to improve the quality of care provided.” The authors note that AI models for many different imaging techniques have been able to enhance more accurate and early detection of cancers. What’s more, AI-enhanced imaging analysis can be used to track existing patients and notice even “the smallest changes in their conditions”, according to a 2024 TIME Magazine article.
Staying up to date on the potential of AI diagnostic tools – and their limitations – is something you’ll want to do as a premed. AI is very likely to be part of your daily working life as a physician.
mRNA Vaccine Technology Beyond COVID-19
For hundreds of years, vaccination has worked by introducing a bacteria or virus to a person’s immune system to help reduce the risk of their developing the full-blown disease. Vaccination has saved many lives, but it involves creating and handling cultures of live diseases. For certain diseases, like seasonal flu, it can also be difficult to predict which strain of disease to create vaccines for.
Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology stands to improve our existing vaccination programs and greatly expand the number of diseases we can vaccinate against. Vaccines with mRNA use a small piece of genetic material from a bacteria or virus to “inform” the body’s immune system about a potential invader. Very little live pathogen has to be handled to create these vaccines, and people receiving mRNA vaccines are not exposed to live virus. The success of mRNA vaccines in combating COVID-19 has opened the door for this technology to be used in other areas of medicine.
According to the University of Pennsylvania, where major advances in mRNA technology were pioneered, mRNA vaccines are currently being tested to treat all known strains of seasonal flu, as well as other infectious diseases like HIV, herpes, and tuberculosis. Vaccines with mRNA even have the potential to help the body fight off cancer or modify liver cells to permanently lower cholesterol levels. If you are a premed who’s interested in working with any type of disease, mRNA is one new medical advancement you should keep on your radar.
Tissue Engineering and 3D Bioprinting
Tissue engineering – creating cell-based structures within the lab that can replace structures within the body – is beginning to advance thanks to the help of advances in 3D bioprinting. Instead of plastic or metal alloys, 3D bioprinters use biocompatible materials like gelatin along with living cells to print new versions of organs or tissue. In a landmark achievement in 2023, Canadian scientists at the Université de Montréal successfully bioprinted a functional heart valve, which was then implanted into an animal model. The researchers’ goal is to eventually use the valves in children with congenital heart defects.
Bioprinting technology is already being used as a study tool: scientists at the Mayo Clinic have bioprinted functional models of the human epidermis so they can study skin disease progression in greater detail. Right now, the technology is limited because researchers haven’t yet found a way to successfully replicate functional capillaries and veins for large 3D-printed structures, such as whole organs. However, tissue engineering could eventually lead to the development of lab-grown organs tailored to individual patients, helping to address help address the shortage of donor organs. For premeds, understanding the principles of tissue engineering and 3D bioprinting will be crucial as these technologies advance.
Telemedicine and Remote Monitoring
Telemedicine involves the use of internet video to help patients consult doctors remotely. Telemedicine could help patients with mobility issues and patients in rural locations gain better access to treatment from specialists. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine, but its impact extends beyond just virtual doctor visits.
Recent advances in remote monitoring technology, such as wearable devices that track vital signs and chronic conditions, are transforming patient care. For instance, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) have become game-changers for diabetes management. These devices, which involve a smart patch on the arm that’s linked to an app, give patients continuous, more effective feedback about their blood sugar levels, eliminating the need for finger-prick tests.
Remote monitoring has also made inroads in cardiology. A 2024 study by Imperial College London looked at heart attack reoccurrence in cardiac patients. One group of patients was provided with home monitoring equipment and instructed to contact a specialist team via video call if they experienced concerning symptoms. Others were encouraged to use traditional monitoring. The remote monitoring group was 76% less likely to be readmitted to hospital than the traditional group. As remote monitoring devices diversify, telemedicine has the potential to reduce strain on health systems.
Why You Need to Keep Up with New Developments
These five medical advances—CRISPR-Cas9, AI in diagnostics, mRNA vaccines, tissue engineering, and telemedicine—are not just shaping the future of healthcare; they are redefining what it means to practice medicine. As a premed or Tiber Health MSMS student, staying informed about these developments is not only essential for your education – it’s also essential for understanding how you’ll need to constantly evolve with new advances once you are a physician.
