The ambitious goal of identifying all 20,000-plus genes in human DNA has evolved into the foundation of understanding how genetic variations affect our risks of developing diseases and our chances of having beneficial or adverse responses to treatments. Personalized medicine represents the next stage of genetics research and holds so much promise that most academic medical centers as well as investors are increasingly ready to contribute significantly to this new area of medicine.

We expect that by 2010, predictive genetic tests will be available for as many as a dozen common conditions, enabling individuals to take preventive steps to reduce their risks of developing such disorders. Scientists are also optimistic that by 2020, new gene-based drugs will be developed for diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's, and other conditions.

Get involved! You can help us make more progress, faster. E-mail Tara Pometti in the Development Office at Mount Sinai or call her at (212) 659-1579 for more information on making a gift to IPM, or donate online today.

Group portrait of, standing left to right: Dr. Dennis Charney, Dean, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Mr. Peter May, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Dr. Kenneth Davis, CEO and President, Mount Sinai Medical Center. Sitting left to right: Mr. Jeffrey Solomon, Director, The Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philantrophies, Mr. Charles Bronfman, Dr. Erwin Bottinger, Director, The Charles R. Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine.