Future of medicine
Ten much-discussed research paths — from brain–computer interfaces and xenotransplantation to bioprinted organs and digital twins — clearly separating what is being tested in people from what is still in the lab, and what separates each from clinical use.
- In widespread clinical use0
- Approved for specific uses0
- In clinical trials7
- Preclinical3
- Concept0
Being tested in people
Paths that have reached clinical studies in people; a few have limited approved applications.
- In vivo gene editing In in vivo gene editing the editing tools are given to the patient to correct a genetic fault in cells where they are, instead of removing cells and modifying them outside the body as in the approved sickle cell treatment. In 2025 NIH announced the first known case of a personalized gene-editing medicine given to a single patient.In clinical trials
- Personalized cancer vaccines Cancer treatment vaccines are a type of immunotherapy that treats cancer; personalized ones are made for each patient based on the molecular features of their tumour. Small trials have shown promising results, but larger trials are needed to confirm them.In clinical trials
- Xenotransplantation Xenotransplantation means transplanting, implanting or infusing live cells, tissues or organs from an animal source into a human. Research focuses on organs from gene-edited pigs; use in people is still experimental, and the main hurdles are rejection and the risk of infection passing from the animal.In clinical trials
- Brain–computer interfaces A brain–computer interface picks up brain signals and translates them; it can help people with paralysis communicate by decoding neural signals into words. Implanted devices are still being tested in clinical studies with very few participants.In clinical trials
- Induced pluripotent stem cells Induced pluripotent stem cells are mature adult cells that scientists have reprogrammed in the laboratory. Their use to replace damaged cells is being tested, including an early trial in eye disease, but they are not an approved treatment.In clinical trials
- Nanomedicine Nanomedicine uses nano-sized carriers to deliver drugs to targeted tissues such as tumours. Some nano-based cancer drugs have been approved for years, but the use of nanotechnology for cancer diagnosis and treatment is largely still in development.In clinical trials
- Polygenic risk scores A polygenic risk score uses statistics to estimate how the collection of a person’s genetic variants affects their risk of a particular disease. The result is a probability, not a certainty, and health professionals do not yet use these scores routinely because there are no guidelines for practice.In clinical trials
In the lab and foundational research
Paths still in the laboratory, in animal studies or in foundational research.
- Bioprinted organs Researchers are trying to build living tissues and organs by combining cells with supporting scaffolds and biologically active molecules, including by 3D printing. Some simple engineered tissues such as skin and cartilage are FDA-approved but have limited use, while heart, lung and liver tissues remain a long way from being implanted in patients.Preclinical
- Organs-on-chips Organs-on-chips (tissue chips) are engineered microsystems that mimic the structure and function of the heart, kidneys, lungs and other organ systems. They are a research tool for developing drugs and predicting whether drugs will be safe or toxic in humans — not a treatment given to patients.Preclinical
- Digital twins in medicine A digital twin is a set of virtual information constructs that mimics the structure, context and behaviour of a real thing — such as a patient or a tumour — with two-way interaction between the virtual and the physical. In medicine, enthusiasm for the idea currently outweighs evidence of its success.Preclinical
These are research paths, not generally available treatments; their status comes from official sources and trial registries on the date checked shown on each page. Do not base treatment decisions on them; discuss any clinical trial with your doctor.