A new review of expert opinions finds broad support for lifelong genomic medicine among US healthcare professionals. The idea involves storing a person's genomic data for future reanalysis and screening across their lifetime. However, the review also reveals significant governance challenges that must be addressed before this approach can become practical.
The study gathered perspectives from over 50 professionals, including clinical geneticists, genetic counselors, primary care clinicians, and laboratory personnel. Many saw value in having genomic information that could be queried as medical circumstances change, and in reanalyzing stored data rather than retesting. But they also noted that the feasibility of lifelong genomic medicine is limited by gaps in delivery models, consent processes, data stewardship, recontact procedures, and the transition from pediatric to adult care.
No safety concerns were reported in this review. The main limitation is that the barriers are not scientific but rather organizational and ethical. Until these governance issues are resolved, population-scale genomic sequencing risks moving faster than the frameworks needed to make it responsible.
For readers, this review highlights that while the promise of lifelong genomic medicine is widely accepted, the infrastructure to support it is not yet in place. It underscores the need for careful planning around accountability, funding, and patient communication.