Versiti Blood Research Institute Articles
Precision Medicine: Tailoring Treatments One Patient at a Time
When Cody Gunst accidentally bumps his knee today, he doesn't worry about internal bleeding. For someone who has lived with hemophilia B his entire life — enduring advanced arthritis, multiple surgeries, and the constant burden of preventative infusions — this freedom is nothing short of life-changing.
Cody is one of the first patients in the United States to receive HEMGENIX, a groundbreaking gene therapy that delivers a functioning factor IX gene to his liver, enabling his body to produce the blood-clotting factor it previously lacked.
Photo Caption
Cody Gunst, pictured alongside his Versiti medical team, was oneof the first patients in the United States to receive HEMGENIX, agroundbreaking gene therapy for severe hemophilia B.
Moving Beyond One-size-fits-all Approaches
Diseases of the blood affect millions, and many treatments use standardized protocols that ignore their unique genetic and molecular profiles. At Versiti Blood Research Institute (VBRI), precision hematology — personalizing diagnosis and treatment based on individual characteristics — is revolutionizing how we approach bleeding disorders, blood clots, and rare diseases.
Alan Mast, MD, PhD, understands this evolution personally. When his daughter developed a brain blood clot, he witnessed firsthand how far precision medicine has advanced outcomes. His research on tissue factor pathway inhibitor has not only deepened the understanding of hemophilia but also enabled faster, more accurate diagnosis of vascular abnormalities.
"Precision hematology can go beyond blood," Mast notes. "It may unlock answers to neurodevelopmental disorders we've never understood before."
Lynn Malec, MD, MSc, has leveraged these advances directly into patient care. At Versiti's Comprehensive Center for Bleeding Disorders (CCBD), her team developed a gene therapy administration program from the ground up, creating the necessary infrastructure and expertise to deliver cutting-edge treatments safely and effectively. They also offer educational sessions to ensure patients understand emerging options. And even though Versiti did not develop the revolutionary gene therapy, the CCBD has quickly become one of the leading administration centers for the treatment nationwide.
"At Versiti, we are constantly looking for new ways to improve how we treat our patients," Malec explains. "We want our patients to have access to different options."
Cody's story exemplifies VBRI's unique strength: Our research teams work directly with patients, rapidly translating discoveries from lab to life. Our specialization in blood disorders positions us to unlock breakthroughs that extend far beyond hematology, potentially revealing answers to neurological and developmental conditions that have long remained mysteries.