dr. francis collins here. [ applause ] we have my science advisor dr. john holder who does not sing. [ applause ] for anyone wondering is there a doctor in the house? we have you covered. we also have members of congress who are here. lamar alexander from the great state of tennessee is one of the key supporters of encouraging medical innovation. i'm so looking forward to working with him. [ applause ] give lamar applause. senator patty murray is preparing to work with him on the issue. she couldn't make it here today. on the house side we have congresswoman diana. [ applause ] last week in my state of the union address i focused on what we need to do to make sure middle class economics help more americans get ahead. we've got to help working families make ends meet. make them feel more secure in a constantly changing dynamic global economy. we have to offer more opportunities for people to upgrades their skills. we got to build the world's most competitive economies. that last part is what i want to focus on today. we've invieded some of america's brig

dr. francis collins, in the white house briefing room today. that's miles o'brien. >> reporter: dr. nks for being with us. >> nice to be here. >> reporter: i suppose when you look at the broad course of history from the time we were drawing blood and putting leaches on people to today, medicine has always gotten more precise. but when we talk about precision medicine now, what are we really talking about? >> we're taking about the idea that we're all different individuals and the best way to keep us healthy or treat us when we're sick is to take account of the individual differences, whether that's an understanding if you have cancer what exactly is going on in your cancer cells, or whether giving you the right drug at the right dose for you. let's understand how to do that better. we've tried to do things like that over decades, but we haven't really had the tools. the time is now to really make that opportunity become a reality. >> reporter: it's been a dozen years since we've unlocked the human genome, we have been waiting for magic cures and they have been slow to come. has the c

dr. francis collins director of the national institutes of health wrote the following -- quote -- "drugs exist for only about 250 of the more than 4,400 conditions with defined molecular causes and it takes far too long," dr. collins said "and far too much money to get a new drug into our medicine cabinets. this is an old problem that cries out for new and creative solutions." since dr. collins said that, the number of conditions with defined molecular causes has increased now to about 5,390. yet the number of new drugs approved has not kept pace with these discoveries. the president of the united states has recognized this. in his state of the union message a few days ago president obama said this. "21st century businesses will rely on american science technology research and development. i want the country that eliminated polio and mapped the human genome to lead a new era of medicine one that delivers the right treatment at the right time in some patients with cystic fibrosis, this approach has reversed a disease once thought unstoppable. tonight," the president said, "i'm launching a