Personalized medicine for patients with chronic diseases in Europe: From concept to clinical practice

The rising prevalence of chronic diseases presents a major challenge to healthcare systems worldwide, particularly within primary care. While advances in diagnostics and therapeutics have improved disease management, traditional care models often neglect the individual contexts and lived experiences of patients. Personalized medicine (PM) offers a paradigm shift from standardized treatment approaches toward patient-specific care, integrating biological, behavioral and psychosocial dimensions to optimize outcomes. This editorial synthesizes findings from the Regions4PerMed (Horizon 2020) project, encompassing focus groups, stakeholder surveys and best practice analyses across 20 European countries. Stakeholders from government, academia, patient organizations and healthcare practice, identified key barriers to PM implementation, including fragmented data systems, insufficient clinician training and limited patient engagement. Cross-border data exchange standards, integration of real-world evidence (RWE) and sustainable funding mechanisms emerged as critical enablers of progress. The transition from concept to practice requires aligning policy, technology and human factors. Personalized care extends beyond genomics and precision therapies to encompass communication, motivation and shared decision-making. Training healthcare professionals in holistic competencies, enhancing digital literacy and promoting trust in data-driven systems are essential for successful adoption. By reframing personalization as both a scientific and relational endeavor, PM can strengthen chronic disease care through more adaptive, patient-centered models. Coordinated action across policy, education and technology domains is vital to embed personalization into everyday clinical practice and ensure sustainable, equitable healthcare delivery across Europe.