3 Questions. 3 Hints. 3 Answers.
January 12, 2016
1. From personalized medicine to personalized insurance. Who is the driver behind your data?
Hint:
Answer: car and driver insurance companies are teaming up with car manufacturers to offer discounted insurance rates to drivers in exchange for data on individual driving habits. To be eligible for discounted rates, drivers have to agree to be tracked and must download a safety application. While at this time such programs are being used to offer discounts, policies could change and there are foreseeable ways information could be used against a driver. Read the details here.
2. Speaking of personalized medicine, what big news by a DNA sequencing giant hit the streets this past week?
Hint:
Answer: Illumina recently announced it hopes to roll-out a blood test through its start-up GRAIL that could detect any type of cancer in a timely manner. Imagine, a single blood test to determine early cancer onset. This is really big news. Read more about GRAIL here.
3. And speaking of blood tests, what is a good one to have handy on the football field?
Hint:
Answer: a hand-held diagnostic analyzer and two concussion protein biomarkers that appear after a concussive injury are the latest tools being developed to assess mild brain injuries on the spot. Point-of-care diagnostics, which allow for testing to take place on-site and next to the patient are effective measures that zero in on the condition to be treated, saving both time and money, not to mention providing better patient care. Read the story here.