Precision medicine is focused on the individual and will require the rapid and accurate identification and prioritization of causative factors of disease. To move forward and accelerate the delivery of the anticipated benefits of precision medicine, developing predictable, reproducible, and reliable animal models will be essential. In order to explore the topic of animal-based research and its relevance to precision medicine, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a 2-day workshop on October 5 and 6, 2017. The workshop was designed to focus on the development, implementation, and interpretation of model organisms to advance and accelerate the field of precision medicine. Participants examined the extent to which next-generation animal models, designed using patient data and phenotyping platforms targeted to reveal and inform disease mechanisms, will be essential to the successful implementation of precision medicine. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
1 Introduction to Precision Medicine and Animal Models
2 Existing Precision Medicine Initiatives
3 The Promise and Perils of Animal Models
4 Reproducibility and Predictivity
5 In Vitro Alternatives to Animal Models
6 Assessing Safety and Toxicology
7 Patient Perspectives
8 Reflections on the Workshop
References
Appendix A: Agenda
Appendix B: Planning Committee Biographies
Appendix C: Speaker Biographies