P4 medicine: the future around the corner.

Traditional medical practice has always been “reactive”, meaning that the doctor intervenes when there is disease. Theoretical (scale-free networks and complex systems), technological (highly efficient “omic” technologies) and conceptual (systems biology) advances of the last decade prelude the transition towards “anticipatory” medicine centered on health and not disease. This review establishes the fundamental conceptual bases and discusses the principal aspects of this new medicine, known as “P4 Medicine” as it is personalized, predictive, preventive and participatory.