Textbook of Drug Design and Discovery, Fifth Edition

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) describes personalized medicine as “the right patient with the right drug at the right dose at the right time,” and it certainly is a timely and emerging medical practice. Personalized Medicine: Promises and Pitfalls, by Gloria Gronowicz, begins with a unique perspective: the author’s own personal anecdote about the very day she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. That day started the author’s own journey with personalized medicine. Gronowicz, a Professor Emeritus of Surgery, continues with a cogent overview and clearly demonstrates her love and broad knowledge of human biology. Packed into a slim 212 pages, with index and glossary of scientific terms, this book is filled with valuable information. The text is presented from the patient’s viewpoint and not, for example, pharmaceutical companies or hospital administrators. Not only are scientific concepts explained for the lay audience, but the material is also interspersed with individual true stories of patients, for a truly “personalized” approach. Each chapter covers an important aspect of personalized medicine, from genomics, proteomics, and epigenetics, to integrative medicine such as nutrition, meditation, and exercise, to an explanation of clinical trials and healthcare system costs. A long list of references finishes off each chapter, so that this book reads both like a condensed textbook and a collection of white papers. Concepts are often illustrated with black-and-white figures or tables. For example, the “Genomics” chapter features images of DNA and RNA and a diagram of DNA replication. The “Integrative medicine” chapter features useful tables on vitamins and minerals, and their corresponding functions and sources in food. Each chapter is divided into sections featuring current technologies and the science behind them, as well as the advantages and pitfalls. The author’s own voice and opinions are often interjected in first person throughout, so that the material becomes more relatable. In terms of breadth and depth, this is a comprehensive and well-researched text. Rarely will you find explanations of the placebo effect, CRISPR, peer review process, obesity maps from the CDC, and an analysis of Textbook of Drug Design and Discovery, Fifth Edition. By Kristian Strømgaard, Povl KrogsgaardLarsen, and Ulf Madsen. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group); 2017. US $94.04 (Hardcover). 436 p. ISBN: 978-1498702782