Systems Medicine: The Application of Systems Biology Approaches for Modern Medical Research and Drug Development

Abstract

The exponential development of highly advanced scientific and medical research technologies throughout the past 30 years has arrived to the point where the high number of characterized molecular agents related to pathogenesis cannot be readily integrated or processed by conventional analytical approaches. Indeed, the realization that several moieties are signatures of disease has partly led to the increment of complex diseases being characterized. Scientists and clinicians can now investigate and analyse any individual dysregulations occurring within the genomic, transcriptomic, miRnomic, proteomic, and metabolomic levels thanks to currently available advanced technologies. However, there are drawbacks within this scientific brave new age in that only isolated molecular levels are individually investigated for their influence in affecting any particular health condition. Since their conception in 1992, systems biology/medicine focuses mainly on the perturbations of overall pathway kinetics for the consequent onset and/or deterioration of the investigated condition/s. Systems medicine approaches can therefore be employed for shedding light in multiple research scenarios, ultimately leading to the practical result of uncovering novel dynamic interaction networks that are critical for influencing the course of medical conditions. Consequently, systems medicine also serves to identify clinically important molecular targets for diagnostic and therapeutic measures against such a condition.

If Systems Approach is the Way Forward, What can the Ayurvedic Theory of <i>Tridosha</i> Teach Us?

“…Clinical medicine has entered an era of systemic approach [1][2][3][4][5] . In this context, ayurveda has much to offer.…”

“…Data from the 'omics' technologies is redefining the understanding of cell as a system rather than as sum of its components. This has not only revolutionized the emerging field of systems biology but has also fuelled growing interest in applying systems theory to clinical medicine [2][3][4][5] . As these advances continue to broaden our understanding of human complexity and provide methodologies for patient-centric systems approach, it is pertinent to have a relook at the Indian medical system of ayurveda known to have an integrated approach to health and disease.…”

Conceptual Foundations of Systems Biology Explaining Complex Cardiac Diseases

“…Ayers and Day [42] emphasize the idea that systems medicine “become one of the mainstays…of future research…not only for extracting further mechanistic knowledge…but also for faster and more effective drug development”. Connection of biological information with electronic medical records intends to revolutionize public health and clinical medicine with preventive and therapeutic programs more appealing to individual patient [43].…”

System Approach to Analyze High-Throughput Data

“…The network components including nodes and edges may be enriched manually by bioinformatics databases (such as BioMart) or automatically by the compatible plugins. The network processing by annotating data can clear the understanding of disease mechanism, signaling integration and gene regulatory systems [3]. …”