Breakthroughs that can save lives

They say that death and taxes are the only ones constant in our lives. Taxes are tolerable. Death, on the other hand, is something that we fight tooth and nail over the centuries. Like any machine, the human body has its share of malfunctions and failures--some of which are already present way before a baby’s birth. Scientists have toiled over drugs and procedures that could potentially and eventually save lives. Every year, breakthroughs are made in the field of biomedicine. Here are some of the best biomedical technologies in the last five years as compiled and evaluated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology:

1. Prenatal DNA sequencing

Back in the day, one can only know about an unborn child’s health through the isolation of fetal cells. However, this procedure could rupture the amniotic sac or damage the placenta resulting in a miscarriage. This problem was addressed by Illumina’s DNA sequencing instruments. Illumina’s biomedical technology allows scientist to isolate the unborn child’s DNA from the mother’s blood. The information culled from the child’s DNA could help parents decide about future actions concerning the unborn child’s health and overall well-being.

2. Immune Engineering and Gene Therapy 2.0

For people whose immune systems are not serving them well, genetic engineers have worked out a solution--the re-engineering of cells to attack its enemies. Through the gene-editing method called TALENs, the scientists from Cellectis have found a way to program the killer T cells to wipe out cancer cells. In addition to cancer, this breakthrough presents a potential cure for patients with HIV and multiple sclerosis. Immune engineering is related to the broader concept of gene therapy which is utilized successfully for diseases where the precise genetic mutation are already identified such as severe combined immune deficiency and hemophilia.

3. Paralysis Reversal

Accidents or neurological diseases could result in paralysis--and this could entail not just the overall changes in the human body but also in the quality of life. This has prompted the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne to embark on the development of a wireless electronic interface that could send messages back and forth between the body and the brain to prompt motion. With this breakthrough, motor skills are restored.

The biomedical breakthroughs above show that our chance for survival against certain diseases is at an all-time high. However, concerns are also mounting around the development and use of these breakthroughs. For one, those who conduct prenatal DNA sequencing cannot seek consent from an unborn child. Decisions about the unborn child’s fate as informed by the DNA sequencing rest primarily on the parents. At worst, these could prompt the termination of pregnancies with unhealthy children. Immune engineering and gene therapy also have its share of failures particularly when programmed genes extinguished the good ones. Meanwhile, continuous animal testing hounds breakthroughs such as those that seek to reverse paralysis.

In all of these, it must be realized that biomedical breakthroughs are neutral agents that depend on its users. One’s moral and ethical compass can dictate the trajectory of the breakthroughs discussed in this article. Much caution must be exercised. Nevertheless, when these breakthroughs are used justly, these could save lives and create positive outcomes for society.