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UK Now Recording Genomes of All New Babies

on Monday, 09 December 2019.

The good news just keeps on coming as the UK goes further in leading the world in genomics.

In 2012, the 100,000 Genomes Project was launched by David Cameron through Genomics England, in memory of the then Prime Minister's son Ivan, who had died in 2009 from a rare condition. The aim was to make the UK the leading pioneers in mapping genomes, to provide more personalised treatments in the future. That project reached its goal in December 2018.

Since then, there has been a flurry of project launches in the UK, including one announced recently by UK Research and Innovation to sequence 500,000 people's genetic codes, to better understand, diagnose, treat, and prevent life-changing diseases, including cancer and dementia. That 'Whole Genome Sequencing' project was already set to lead the way anywhere in the world. The funding for that £200m project was coming from the UKRI (the UK Government's research and innovation agency), the Wellcome Trust charity, and four industry players: Amgen, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline and Johnson & Johnson. The data was to be linked to other detailed clinical and lifestyle data for the anonymised volunteers in UK Biobank. This will combine to give unique insight as to why some people may develop particular diseases and some may not.

Meanwhile, the NHS has been working to a goal of sequencing five million genomes within five years. The aim was to sequence all children diagnosed with cancer first, and then adults with certain rare diseases and hard-to-treat cancers after that.

Now, Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, has promised that all children will in future be able to receive whole genome sequencing at birth. He said that tests would be routinely offered, alongside standard checks on babies, in order to map out the risk of genetic diseases and offer predictive, personalised care.

Mr Hancock told the Genomics England Conference: "My ambition is that eventually every child will be able to receive whole genome sequencing along with the heel prick test. We will give every child the best possible start in life by ensuring they get the best possible medical care as soon as they enter the world."

Comment

The good news just does not stop coming for the UK life sciences industry, and ultimately for patients. The future is personalised care, with genomics at its heart - and the UK is once again taking the lead with yet another exciting genomics project.

At VWV, we are going to hold a Conference in June 2020 through our PING (Pharmaceutical Industry Network Group) initiative on Britain's leading life sciences role in genomics, personalised medicine and artificial intelligence. One of the speakers at our Conference will be Joanne Hackett, Chief Commercial Officer at Genomics England, who will be sharing her vision for the commercial opportunities.


If you have a particular interest in these areas and would be interested in being invited to attend the Conference, please let me know. Please contact Paul Gershlick in our Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences team on 01923 919 320.