'Omics' technology is reshaping medicine. What does this mean for patient engagement?
- Helen McNaught
- Nov 20, 2025
- 5 min read
The rapid rise of multi-omic research spanning genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics and beyond is reshaping the future of medicine. These approaches offer unprecedented insight into disease mechanisms, therapeutic targets, and patient stratification. Yet, as the science becomes more layered and more powerful, the expectations placed on patients and families have also increased.
Against this backdrop, Emily Wheeler, Director of Research Partnerships & Development at MQ Mental Health Research, convened a panel representing a cross-section of the patient engagement landscape:
Sarah Wynn, Chief Executive Officer, Unique
Junmei Cairns, Associate Director, AstraZeneca
Helen McNaught, Clinical Patient Engagement Lead, Nexgen Healthcare Communications (representing ISPEP)
This session illustrated how quickly engagement expectations are evolving and how urgently the ecosystem must respond. The conversation was notable not only for its breadth, but for its clarity: patient partnership is emerging as a foundational requirement of multi-omic research; not an add-on, not a courtesy, but a core component of responsible scientific practice.
