Glossary

In a clinical trial, this refers to a break in ongoing treatment. It is quite often used in crossover trials where a set period is defined before switching to a new medicine. In this period the levels of the previous medicine in the body and the effects should be reduced to zero.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is a laboratory process that determines the complete DNA sequence of an organism's genome at a single time. Great progress in the speed at which genomes can be sequenced, in the number of genomes that can be sequenced at the same time, and in the reducing the cost of sequencing has had a huge impact on medical research and medicines development.

High-throughput genome sequencing technologies have largely been used as a research tool and are currently being introduced into clinical practice. In the future of personalised medicine, whole genome sequencing will be an important tool to guide treatments.

World Health Organisation (WHO) http://www.who.int/en/"

World Medical Association (WMA) http://www.wma.net/en/10home/index.html"