N.Y. Genome Center, IBM Watson forge partnership to improve cancer care

A new initiative launched by the New York Genome Center (NYGC) and IBM Watson will test a unique prototype designed specifically for genomic research as a tool to help oncologists deliver more personalized care to cancer patients.

NYGC and its medical partner institutions initially will evaluate Watson’s ability to help oncologists develop more personalized care to patients with glioblastoma, a malignant brain cancer that kills more than 13,000 people in the U.S. each year. The initiative will identify patterns in genome sequencing and medical data, such as comprehensive biomedical literature and drug databases, to unlock insights for more personalized care delivery, according to a press release.

Watson can continually ‘learn’ as it encounters new patient scenarios, and as more information becomes available through new medical research, journal articles and clinical studies, according to IBM. The goal of the collaboration is to increase the number of patients who have access to care options tailored to their disease’s DNA.  

“Since the human genome was first mapped more than a decade ago, we’ve made tremendous progress in understanding the genetic drivers of disease. The real challenge before us is how to make sense of massive quantities of genetic data and translate that information into better treatments for patients,” said Robert Darnell, MD, PhD, CEO, president and scientific director of the NYGC, in a statement.