Medical breakthroughs are discoveries that significantly improve diagnosis, treatment or prevention. They often require decades of research and investment that culminate in pioneering therapies, techniques or products that improve the quality of life for patients. These developments often spark hope for a healthier future, and the horizons look bright.
For example, a breakthrough that may seem like magic could actually be the result of necessity (a disease must be eradicated), opportunity (the time must be right), chance (a discovery made not for practical purposes but by luck) and ingenuity (the ability to find a solution). Such a chain reaction can lead to vaccines such as polio or penicillin.
Other medical advances that have changed our lives include the mapping of the human genome and the harnessing of our own bodies’ immune systems to combat cancers. For instance, immunotherapy has dramatically improved the prognosis for many cancer patients with durable remissions, underscoring the importance of translational research and clinical trials.
Moreover, the development of regenerative medicine offers the promise of restoring or replacing damaged organs and tissues. This exciting field includes stem cell therapy, tissue engineering and 3D printing. Examples of regenerative medicine applications include spinal cord injury rehabilitation and the replacement of heart valves [5].