Advancing personalized medicine: key priorities for clinical studies and funding systems based on a Europe-China collaborative Delphi survey

Personalized medicine (PM) has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by delivering treatments tailored to individual patients based on their unique characteristics. However, ensuring its effective implementation presents complex challenges, particularly in terms of long-term sustainability. To address these challenges, the IC2PerMed project fosters collaboration between the European Union and China. This study, building on insights from the project, aims to identify key priorities for advancing PM, focusing on Clinical Studies and Funding Systems, with special attention to optimizing resource management, distribution, and protection to support sustainable development. A two-round Delphi survey was conducted to achieve consensus on common priorities among China and Europe related to Clinical Studies and Funding Systems. Consensus was measured using the Content Validity Index, requiring an agreement level of 80% or higher for item inclusion. The survey identified 20 key priorities in PM research, split evenly between research initiatives and funding mechanisms. Notable priorities include developing technology for deep phenotyping, standardizing methodological approaches, and fostering public-private collaborations. In funding, the emphasis was placed on involving patient voices in research design and establishing synergies among funders to support larger projects. The findings underscore the importance of structured collaboration between Europe and China in advancing personalised medicine. By addressing identified priorities in research and funding, this initiative can significantly enhance the efficacy of PM, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes globally. The study sets a precedent for future international partnerships aimed at fostering innovation in health sciences.