The title of this publication reflects the fact that we face not one but multiple potential future states of healthcare. We have now decided to highlight every year a future that seems — on evidence from our coverage during the previous year — to be especially likely of fulfilling its potential.

For 2006, our Health Future of the Year is Personalized Medicine. We would also like to recognize the efforts of the Personalized Medicine Coalition (PMC) to promote discussion and understanding of the topic, by naming the PMC as our 2006 Health Futures Organization of the Year.

The PMC’s report “The Case For Personalized Medicine” — a review of the state of personalized medicine as of late 2006 — complements the summary of developments presented below, and we recommend you read both.

Please note that there are no new article summaries in this issue, and you should ignore the “ go to section ” link — just stay on the main page. Links within the text will take you to the specific article summaries from 2006 that contributed to this special issue.