What if we could detect 400 rare diseases in your newborn before any symptom appears?

The technology exists but the US is moving fast, China is scaling rapidly, and Europe is choosing caution. Behind the science lies a global power struggle and the rules are still being written.

Welcome to Pharma Minds, Mini-Series “Who controls innovation?". In this mini-series, we explore one question in two parts: who controls innovation and who actually makes it happen.

Genomic medicine is no longer a promise. It is becoming our reality.

But as the science advances, a global race is emerging : the United States is moving fast, China is scaling rapidly, and Europe is advancing more cautiously.

In this episode, we go inside the PERIGENOMED project with Prof. Laurence Olivier-Faivre, clinical geneticist and Head of Department at Dijon University Hospital (France), one of France's most ambitious national initiatives aiming to integrate whole-genome sequencing into newborn screening.

The ultimate goal? To act before symptoms appear.

By detecting over 400 rare diseases in the first days of life, we can treat conditions that are treatable before irreversible damage occurs. But behind this medical breakthrough lies a complex web of ethical dilemmas, organizational challenges, and cultural differences.

In this episode, we cover:

◾️ The Reality of Execution : how newborn genomic screening actually works and its direct medical impact.

◾️ The Ethical Minefield : managing genetic data, incidental findings, and the critical issue of family consent.

◾️ The Healthcare Revolution : the massive operational shift required for hospitals and maternity wards.

◾️ The Global Race : the cultural and strategic differences in genomic medicine between France, the US, the UK, and China.

◾️ The Future : what lifelong genetic prevention will look like in the years to come. Three approaches. Three speeds. Who will ultimately define the rules of preventive genomic medicine?

What do you think Europe should prioritize in genomic medicine: speed, ethics, or competitiveness?

Let us know in the comments. 👇🏻

Science creates hope. Reality decides impact. If you want to follow the whole series, don't forget to subscribe.

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This episode is made possible with the support of Kyowa Kirin. As always, our editorial line remains fully independent.

This episode has been translated with the help of AI tools. Originally released on: May 19th 2025. To listen to the original French version of this episode: https://smartlink.ausha.co/pharma-minds/depister-400-maladies-des-la-naissance-grace-au-depistage-genetique-le-projet-perigenomed.

Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.