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Medical research is rapidly changing healthcare. Whether students are pursuing medical degrees or just taking advantage of medical advances like rapid COVID testing or wearable tech, innovation is everywhere. 

One area that’s seen extraordinary advancement is the field of personalized medicine. This approach to healthcare focuses on the individual rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, recognizing that each person’s body responds differently to things like medication and treatment plans. Information provided by genetic testing can help healthcare providers better understand someone’s risk of developing cancer or passing on genetic illness. 

Now, most college students are more focused on choosing classes and making friends than gaining insight into their genetic profile. But while they’re laying the foundation for their future career, they’re also in a unique position to start taking steps to protect their long-term health. Getting tested at a young age allows them to start the conversation with their healthcare providers on healthy lifestyle habits, family planning strategies, and other personalized treatment plans. 

“Understanding your genetic risk today can help you make informed healthcare decisions for years to come, whether you’re planning a family or taking steps to reduce your cancer risk,” said Dr. Matt Goldstein, MD, PhD, and CEO of jscreen.org. 

jscreen, a national nonprofit public health initiative, works to prevent genetic diseases and hereditary cancers by making genetic testing affordable and accessible. As part of its awareness program, the organization hosts screening events on college campuses and events like Pink Power Hour, in which 350 people signed up for genetic cancer screening in a single hour. 

As CEO, Dr. Goldstein has made it his mission to promote genetic testing and advance genetic research. The physician-scientist and entrepreneur is a graduate of Stanford University’s MD/PhD program and completed his clinical training at Harvard Medical School. He also has extensive experience in biotech, including founding Tango Therapeutics and Neon Therapeutics. 

But Dr. Goldstein’s commitment is also personal. He lost his eldest daughter, Havi, to Tay-Sachs disease, a rare inherited condition for which there is no cure. That’s part of why he’s become such a passionate advocate for tools like carrier screening, in which prospective parents can determine whether they’re at risk of passing on the gene for Tay-Sachs and other genetic illnesses. As most carriers lack symptoms and a family history of these diseases, genetic testing is the only way to know whether one is a carrier. 

Genetic testing can also determine hereditary cancer risk by detecting certain genetic mutations associated with a higher risk of cancer. Together, carrier screenings and hereditary cancer testing can arm young adults with the knowledge they need to protect their health and that of their future children. 

Luckily for busy college students, genetic testing has come a long way in the last few years. No longer does one have to wait in a hospital or spend thousands of dollars on a test; now, genetic testing is available in at-home saliva kits. Any Rice student who wants to know more about their genetic profile can order a kit online, mail the test back, and receive personalized results, often within weeks. Many testing companies also offer telehealth sessions with genetic counselors who will go over the results and encourage follow-up with primary care doctors. 

Genetic testing is just one of several medical innovations at students’ disposal. While it may not seem like a priority amid the chaos of campus, getting tested can be the first step in many students’ lives toward taking charge of their health.