05 Jul Wisconsin got $49M to invest in personalized medicine. What does that mean?

By Natalie Yahr, The Cap Times

Wisconsin is already a hub for the growing field of personalized medicine, where scientists tailor treatments to a person’s genes. But a range of challenges is holding the industry back. Advocates say it’s hard for researchers to find the workers and data they need, and that the existing health data exacerbates inequalities because it doesn’t include enough people from racial and ethnic minorities.

Now, a coalition of biohealth businesses, colleges and economic development agencies is getting $49 million in federal funds to solve those problems and more. The funds, announced Tuesday by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, will create a new shared health database, send a fleet of cancer screening vans to underserved neighborhoods, provide lab space for science startups and help biohealth businesses develop apprenticeship programs.

“This investment will turbo charge our economy and bring opportunity far and wide,” Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin said on a call with reporters Tuesday. Read more…