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Conclusions and Outlook 43

However, integrating TCM with modern medicine at the omics level in order
to contribute to more targeted personalized medicine is a long and arduous
process that requires the accumulation and synthesis of knowledge in many
fields, including genomics/genetics, molecular biology, pharmacology, epi-
demiologic studies on gene-disease associations, gene-environment-behavior
interactions, and genomics-informed clinical trials of TCM health interven-
tions. Advances in omics may also provide new opportunities for TCM in
public health that focus on disease prevention, because genomic studies can
provide genetic information at the individual level as well as at the population
level, thus increasing the interaction and the interdependence between the tra-
ditional healthcare delivery system, which focuses on treatment of individuals,
and the public health system, which focuses on prevention, suboptimal health
management, and control in populations (Wang et al., 2014). Notably, this
enhanced interaction is creating a shared population health information focus
on using genomic advances appropriately and effectively to promote health
and to prevent disease, which can be applied to TCM its prevention aspect.
Ultimately, with increasing integration, the modern form of TCM will continue
to progress in the postgenomics era for a more integrated, evidence-based, and
personalized health care. Hence TCM has the potential to be a new and rap-
idly emerging driver for novel molecular-targeted personalized medicine in the
coming decade.

CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK

China has a large population spread over a large land mass; in addition, China
suffers from imbalanced economic development. Although China has invested
in the basic research of genome science, it is urgent for China to develop
public health genomic programs and clinical genetic services that meet the
needs of the Chinese people, particularly residents in rural areas. A standard
framework for evaluating genetic/genomic testing and related interventions in
China is also needed. What is more, the Chinese government should imple-
ment genomic education into the Chinese health care system. China needs an
easy way for the public to obtain genetic information on innovation, educa-
tion, and prevention. The understanding of TCM has advanced greatly along
with data-intensive genomics and omics biotechnologies. However, integrating
TCM with modern medicine at the omics level in order to contribute to a more
targeted personalized medicine is a long and arduous process that requires
accumulation and synthesis of knowledge in many fields. Advances in omics
will provide new opportunities for TCM in public health that focus on dis-
ease prevention, because genomic studies can provide genetic information at
individual level as well as in the population as a whole, thus increasing the
interaction and the interdependence between the traditional healthcare deliv-
ery system, which focuses on treatment of individuals, and the public health