In Brief

^? The field of molecular medicine deals with health and disease on the cellular and molecular levels. It helps to improve diagnoses and treatments, while cutting healthcare costs at the same time. The three pillars of molecular medicine—in vitro and in vivo diagnostics, and knowledge-based IT—influence all stages of healthcare, from disease prevention and diagnosis to treatment and aftercare. Through the acquisition of Diagnostic Products Corporation and Bayer Diagnostics, Siemens has brought these three pillars of molecular medicine together under one roof, making it the first company in the world to offer integrated diagnostics   ^{more at Trends and  In Vitro Diagnostics}

^? In vitro diagnostics: In the future, lab tests will increasingly rely on analyses of the human genome, making it possible to determine a person’s genetic predisposition toward many diseases. Diseases could then be averted by treating patients with a customized disease-prevention programs. With the help of biomarkers, lab tests will, for example, discover cancers, infections and cardiovascular diseases at an early stage. In addition, biopsies may be replaced by "needle-tip labs"   
^{more at Trends, In Vitro Diagnostics, and in the Interview with Prof. Weissleder}

^? In vivo diagnostics: New types of biomarkers, contrast agents, and ultra-high-field MR and MR-PET tomographs make it possible to detect initial changes in cell metabolism. It may be possible, for example, to identify and treat Alzheimer’s years before any memory loss occurs. In addition, the effects of medications on the human body could be viewed in greater detail than is the case today, and treatment adapted accordingly   
^{more at  In Vivo Diagnostics, Cooperations, and the interviews with  Prof. Ganten and Prof. Weissleder}

^? Knowledge-based IT: Among other things, Siemens’ GeneSim platform is designed to help uncover key relationships in databases throughout the world. Examples include finding out which genes play a role in cancer and how they interact, thereby simplifying the development of effective medications. Researchers will also benefit from the Molecular Imaging Portal, which links all pre-clinical and clinical data   ^more