What are medical advances?
A medical advance is the generation of information or a discovery of knowledge that improves our understanding in medical science, this is a significant breakthrough that results in an improvement of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Medical advancements can lead to:
- Discovery of new pharmaceutical drugs and vaccines
- Medical device and medical technology innovations
- The application of digital technologies in the medical field
Why are medical advances important?
A significant turning point in the way diseases are diagnosed, treated, or prevented has the potential to extend and save lives. Medical advancements are also vital to society, progression in science reduces the financial burden of disease and protects healthcare systems.
What are the most significant medical advances in history?
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
Antibody therapies are developed
The first experimental antivirals are developed
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
The x-ray is discovered
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Antibody therapies are developed
The first experimental antivirals are developed
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
The x-ray is discovered
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
Antibody therapies are developed
The first experimental antivirals are developed
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
The x-ray is discovered
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Antibody therapies are developed
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
The first experimental antivirals are developed
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
The x-ray is discovered
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
Antibody therapies are developed
The first experimental antivirals are developed
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
The x-ray is discovered
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Antibody therapies are developed
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
The first experimental antivirals are developed
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
The x-ray is discovered
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Antibody therapies are developed
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
The first experimental antivirals are developed
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
The x-ray is discovered
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Antibody therapies are developed
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
The first experimental antivirals are developed
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
The x-ray is discovered
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
Antibody therapies are developed
The first experimental antivirals are developed
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
The x-ray is discovered
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Antibody therapies are developed
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
The first experimental antivirals are developed
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
The x-ray is discovered
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
Antibody therapies are developed
The first experimental antivirals are developed
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
The x-ray is discovered
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Antibody therapies are developed
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
The first experimental antivirals are developed
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
The x-ray is discovered
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
Antibody therapies are developed
The first experimental antivirals are developed
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
The x-ray is discovered
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Antibody therapies are developed
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
The first experimental antivirals are developed
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
The x-ray is discovered
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
Antibody therapies are developed
The first experimental antivirals are developed
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
The x-ray is discovered
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
Antibody therapies are developed
AI starts to produce impressive innovative technologies for healthcare
The first experimental antivirals are developed
Stem cells are found inside human cord blood
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
The first successful kidney transplant is carried out
Louis Pasteur proves bacteria causes diseases
The x-ray is discovered
Edward Jenner discovers first vaccine for Smallpox
William T. G. Morton uses ether as an anaesthetic
A number of medical advances in history have changed societies and lives of individuals across the world. Each discovery has brought us closer to understanding the complexity of disease. Some of the most top medical advances in history include:
Vaccines (1796)
Anaesthesia (1846)
Medical imaging (1895)
Penicillin (1928)
Organ transplants (1954)
Artificial intelligence (21st Century)
Advancements by women in medicine
Women have made a significant contribution to advancements in medicine over the centuries, often in the face of prejudice and discrimination. Society’s view towards women working in science and medicine has made great progress in recent times and today we celebrate some of the most influential women in the history of life sciences. Their extraordinary achievements and contributions have saved countless lives and continue to inspire generations of women in medicine to this day.
Innovation in drug discovery, biotechnology, digital health and medical devices has the potential to provide new and improved treatments for some of the leading causes of death such as heart disease, strokes and cancer. They also have the power to eradicate diseases and prevent patients from developing conditions at all.
Telehealth and telemedicine
Telehealth and telemedicine is beginning to transform the way that patients receive health care services, with patients able to attend appointments virtually using their personal computer or device. This is allowing patients to get seen quicker and providing them with greater access to physicians they would not be able to physically meet.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to transform our lives in the coming years, its impact may be more profound and far-reaching in healthcare than in any other field. Pharmaceutical and medical device companies have worked with technology companies to transform digital processes, improve patient management, detect and diagnose disease and even aid drug discovery.
CRISPR
CRISPR opens up many opportunities in the field of medicine, including curing once incurable diseases. CRISPR is a game-changer as it can be used to correct mutations at the DNA level, for people with genetic disorders.
Personalised medicine
Precision medicine means that drugs, therapies and devices are tailor-made treatments to individual patients, hugely reducing the risk of side effects while increasing its effectiveness.
Challenges in medical advances
Increasing populations
Thanks to improved healthcare, people are living longer and populations are growing. This means there is an ongoing demand for healthcare providers to meet the unmet needs of patients. Patients across the world are finding it increasingly harder to access health care due to oversubscribed doctors and hospitals.
Increasing costs
As it’s becoming progressively more difficult for life science companies to deliver cures for their unmet needs of patients, this is pushing up the cost of research and development and therefore impacting the price of medicine for consumers.
What will future medical advances look like?
With R&D costs increasing and the complexity of precision medicine becoming more challenging life science companies are gravitating more towards a digital-first mindset. The future of medical advancements will bring more digitally integrated solutions and medical technologies, and this will influence how clinical trials are designed and how new products are brought to market.
What part does Proclinical play in medical advances?
At Proclinical, we are a global provider of tailored workforce solutions exclusively within the life sciences industry. We help individuals, teams, and whole organizations grow so they can innovate life-saving and life-changing therapies and technologies and get them into the hands of more patients around the world faster.
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