Johnson & Johnson Aims to Prevent Diseases Before They Are Diagnosed

Imagine being able to identify people likely to develop a particular disease -- and then stop it before it starts. This isn't a science fiction tale. It's the ambitious goal of three research projects just launched by Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical research arm, Janssen Research & Development, that the company says are aimed at redefining health care. Johnson & Johnson will try to find ways to prevent common, frightening and often deadly disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, cancer, heart disease, immune conditions, and Type 1 diabetes. While the three new research programs Janssen's created share the goal of blocking illness, the approaches vary: The Janssen Prevention Center will focus on preventing some conditions that most burden the elderly -- and health care systems straining to pay for their care. Such as Alzheimer's, cancer and heart disease. The Janssen Human Microbiome Institute will study the microbiome, bacteria living in and on the body that have recently been found to have a key role in our health. The Disease Interception Accelerator will explore genetic defects and other causes of diseases so they can be detected long before they are currently diagnosed.