ABPI Calls for More Skills Support and Other Focus to Maximise UK Genomics Benefits

This warning comes from an Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) report: "Harnessing the UK’s genomics expertise to improve patient outcomes".

The UK has more than 140 genomics companies generating over £2bn for the UK economy - with the potential to grow more. The genomic research expertise has grown and built off the back of leading initiatives such as the 100,000 Genomes Project, the UK Biobank, and the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium which formed the vast diagnostic network for COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing.

However, the UK is not capitalising on these strengths as much as it could, to realise the economic and health potential of a thriving genomics ecosystem.

The ABPI's 10 recommendations are categorised within research and development, and use within disease prevention and care:

Harnessing Genomics for Research and Development

• The Medical Research Council - UK Research and Innovation (MRC-UKRI) should partner with industry, academia, and charities to scope and deliver the UK Functional Genomics Initiative, ensuring plans build on the UK’s existing expertise and infrastructure.
• The Government and NHS should fully deliver the commitments in the Data Saves Lives and Accelerating Genomic Medicine in the NHS strategies, to drive interoperability and connectivity between flagship research programmes and across genomic and health data assets.
• Genomic medicine services across the four UK nations should work with the research sector to develop a UK-wide Genomic Research Collaborative which:
  • Supports healthcare systems across the four UK nations in offering the opportunity to participate in genomic research to every individual receiving a genomic test in the NHS.
  • Monitors and reports on participation in genomic research, promoting diversity and inclusion in recruitment and data collection.
  • Establishes a framework for genomic research involving clinical and laboratory resources, to ensure ethical and responsible conduct.
• UKRI should work with industry partners and across research councils to establish an education and training programme for PhD students and post-doctorates to support upskilling in genomic driven research approaches.

Using Genomics to Improve Disease Prevention and Patient Care

• Genomic medicine services across the four UK nations should standardise processes, referral pathways and timelines for genomic testing, ensuring testing is delivered in clinically relevant timelines. For England, this should also include coordinated working with Community Diagnostic Centres on processes and flows for diagnostic genomic and pharmacogenomic testing.
• Genomic medicine services across the four UK nations should publish annual reports on performance metrics and user feedback from healthcare professionals, industry, patients and their families. This should include a comprehensive overview of testing capabilities, turnaround times, and timelines for service improvement, to raise awareness of current and future capabilities.
• The healthcare systems in all four UK nations should work with industry and regulators to enhance the current horizon scanning function for genomic advances and technologies, to ensure the genomic medicine services adopt new innovations, in line with global trends.
• Genomic medicine services across the four UK nations should establish a clear process for adding new tests and increasing uptake of new-born screening, ensuring appropriate support is in place for families.
• Genomic medicine services across the four UK nations should work with Royal Colleges and industry to disseminate and encourage uptake of genomics education materials and resources, including the NHS Genomics Education Programme and Royal College of GPs Genomics Toolkit.
• The healthcare systems in all four UK nations should incorporate the needs of the genomics workforce in their long-term strategic workplace planning, ensuring there is a recruitment, retention and development strategy to grow the genomic medicine service workforce.

ABPI Chief Executive, Richard Torbett, commented: “The UK has consistently demonstrated its proficiency in genomics and has solidified its position as a leader in the field for many years. Though industry is already working with the NHS to increase access to genomic medicine, more needs to be done to ensure the very best patient outcomes.

“Our recommendations are intended to help the Government, the NHS and the science community work more effectively to help patients feel the benefits of the UK’s world-leading genomics capability.”

Hear More About the Development of Specialist Skills for Areas Like Cell and Gene Therapies

This ABPI report resonates with the NHS England's new strategy to accelerate genomics in the NHS, which was recently announced by Amanda Pritchard, the NHS England Chief Executive, at England's first-ever NHS genomics healthcare summit - for example, around training, embedding use within the NHS, R&D, and collaborations.

Training and getting the right skills in cell and gene therapies is a big issue. I recently had the privilege to look around North Hertfordshire College's SITEC site - which has been kitted out to replicate working in a cell and gene therapy laboratory. The College has developed courses in collaboration with employers and education providers so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for skilled employment.

At the 2023 invitation-only PING Conference, we will be hearing about skills shortages in the life sciences sector and what the solutions will be, including from a university and a college who are working with industry.

If you would like to be invited to attend the PING Conference, please contact Paul Gershlick in our Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences team on 07795 570 072, or complete the form below.