Preparation for Implementing Precision Medicine in Endocrinology

Precision medicine is a modern approach to medicine that employs the most effective strategies for preventing and treating each disease while considering individuals' diverse needs. This approach involves examining a person's ethnic background, lifestyle, genetic makeup, and metabolic profile to determine an appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan tailored to their specific circumstances and requirements. The necessary infrastructure for implementing this approach includes advances in tools and methods that identify individual molecular characteristics and enable the integration of large amounts of data. In addition to these technological advancements, physicians must possess the knowledge and skills to use these resources effectively to enhance their clinical practice. Therefore, the foundation for precision medicine lies in transforming medical education, which must focus on using massive genomic, metabolomic, epidemiological, clinical, and paraclinical data, utilizing computer technologies and artificial intelligence. The achievement of these goals can enable the adoption of tailored preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies for each patient group. This review article provides an introduction to precision medicine and its advancements in the field of endocrinology, with a focus on diabetes as one of the most prevalent endocrine diseases in contemporary societies. Additionally, we introduce the Tehran Cardiometabolic Genetic Study, which was conducted within the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study framework and is a suitable candidate for implementing precision medicine approaches, given its 25-year follow-up and collection of genetic and clinical information from a population of fifteen thousand individuals.