The Reality of Health Care Today
- 150 million people alive today in the United States alone will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. The cost of caring for cancer patients each year is estimated to be in excess of $210 billion.
- Today, nearly 24 million people live with diabetes in the U.S. alone at an annual cost of $174 billion.
- 20 million people will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease in 2050 in this country. To care for those people in that one year alone will cost $1.5 trillion.
- 7.5 million people suffer heart attacks each year. In 2009, the cost of caring for those with cardiovascular disease in the U.S. is approaching $500 billion annually.
- 350,000 children are born each year with autism in this country. By the year 2020, the annual cost of caring for autistic individuals will range from $200 to $400 billion per year.
The Challenge We All Face as Health Care Consumers
No one disagrees that we need a new approach in health care. The burden of major diseases is overwhelming the U.S. and other health systems and, more importantly, continues to have a devastating impact on individuals and families. Patients are left with a “one size fits all” model that has lead to skyrocketing health care costs, unknown risks and late-stage diagnosis for disease.
People everywhere are looking for more effective, affordable health care – health care that eliminates unnecessary treatments, reduces the potential for adverse reaction to drugs, identifies who is at risk for future health conditions and predicts how a patient will respond to treatment.
Ignite can meet this challenge, revolutionizing health care and empowering patients with personalized medicine.
The Solution We Need Right Now
The Ignite Institute was established to serve as the international epicenter of a revolutionary approach to health care – one that is built around the unique needs and biology of each individual and focuses on applying the latest discoveries in personalized medicine, in clinical settings, to meet their specific health needs.
Using the latest technology derived from the Human Genome Project, we can sift through an individual’s entire genetic blueprint and identify susceptibilities to various diseases, as well as the likelihood of a positive response to a particular targeted therapy or health intervention. This strategy, treating a patient based on the molecular underpinnings of disease, is truly the essence of personalized, preventive medicine. And operating according to this new model is precisely the focus of the Institute.