UAB Sees Opportunity with Precision Medicine
Precision medicine is changing the way doctors treat people with cancer. It’s an emerging field that is sometimes referred to as “personalized medicine.” That’s because treatments are tailored for specific patient traits. Many observers say UAB is particularly well-positioned to lead the targeted therapy front. That’s the subject of the cover article in Friday’s Birmingham Business Journal. Editor Ty West talked with WBHM’s Andrew Yeager.
Interview Highlights
What precision medicine is:
“In terms of cancer care, this is a very precise form of medicine that depends a lot on the human genome and the sequencing that’s happened in recent years. It basically allows you to develop a personalized plan of care based on a patient’s DNA. This is an area that’s grown exponentially really over the past five or six years and it is an area that many believe is going to be the next frontier in medicine overall, but particularly in terms of cancer care.”
Why UAB is positioned to ride this new technology:
“They’ve already kind of been at the forefront. They’ve made some strategic hires. If you look back over the past five or six years, they’ve hired some leading experts in precision medicine and genomic medicine, so that’s one reason. If think if you look at Alabama also and our health situation here in the state, experts have told us over the years that also creates some opportunities from some interesting clinical trials. A lot of groundbreaking cancer research can be done and that’s unfortunate for our community that we’re faced with some of those chronic health challenges, but it does create opportunities to change the world here in Birmingham.”
What the university plans to do:
“They want to do a $70 million genomic medicine building. That would be a wholesale renovation of an existing building. They’re approaching this like an economic development project, not like another building at UAB’s campus. They believe with a facility like this that could be kind of a leading global facility, it’ll make it easier to recruit researchers here. And every one of those researchers are kind of like a small business. They have staffs. They have million dollar budgets that are coming in. That’s bringing money into this community. But perhaps more importantly, it’s creating the opportunity to create more jobs down the road in terms of commercialization, in terms of spinning off some startups.”
Editorial note: UAB holds WBHM’s broadcast license, but WBHM’s news and business departments operate independently.
Alabama Power seeks to delay rate hike for new gas plant amid outcry
The state’s largest utility has proposed delaying the rate increase from its purchase of a $622 million natural gas plant until 2028.
Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones announces run for Alabama governor
Jones announced his campaign Monday afternoon, hours after filing campaign paperwork with the Secretary of State's Office. His gubernatorial bid could set up a rematch with U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the Republican who defeated Jones in 2020 and is now running for governor.
Scorching Saturdays: The rising heat threat inside football stadiums
Excessive heat and more frequent medical incidents in Southern college football stadiums could be a warning sign for universities across the country.
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor to join our award-winning team covering important regional stories across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
Judge orders new Alabama Senate map after ruling found racial gerrymandering
U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco, appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, issued the ruling Monday putting a new court-selected map in place for the 2026 and 2030 elections.
Construction on Meta’s largest data center brings 600% crash spike, chaos to rural Louisiana
An investigation from the Gulf States Newsroom found that trucks contracted to work at the Meta facility are causing delays and dangerous roads in Holly Ridge.
