Genomics England
Genomics England is a company owned by the UK Department of Health. The company was formed to conduct the four-year 100,000 Genomes Project, which uses England's National Health Service data to perform whole genome sequencing of 100,000 participant samples. The 100,000 Genomes Project is focusing on rare diseases, some common types of cancer, and infectious diseases.[1]
The initial participants were recruited from Cambridge University Hospitals, University College London Partners and Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust. The following medical centres joined the project a short time later: Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust.
History
Genomics England was established in July 2013 as a company fully owned by the UK Department of Health. The company was launched by Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health on 5 July, in an announcement timed to coincide with the 65th birthday of the NHS.[2] The Board of Genomics England includes a number of notable scientists, including Sir John Chisholm (former chair of the UK Medical Research Council), Prof. Sir John Bell, Prof. Dame Kay Davies and Prof. Dame Sally Davies.[3] In addition to the delivery of the 100,000 Genomes Project, it is hoped that Genomics England will also mark the beginnings of a UK genomics industry and the start of a personalised medical service.[2]
In August 2014, the Wellcome Trust announced that it was investing £27 million in a genome-sequencing hub for Genomics England, allowing the company to become part of the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, home to the Sanger Institute. On the same date, Prime Minister David Cameron unveiled a new partnership between Genomics England and the sequencing firm Illumina. Illumina’s services for whole genome sequencing were secured in a deal worth around £78million.[4]
As of December 2015, the 100,000 Genomes Project has passed the 6,000 whole genomes sequenced mark, with the aim of reaching 100,000 by 2017,[5] as result, in 2016, a child with debilitating "mystery" diseases have finally been given a diagnosis.[6]
NHS Genomic Medicine Centres
Following the pilot studies, Genomics England ran a tender to appoint NHS Genomic Medicine Centres with responsibility for recruiting suitable patients, gaining their consent to participate in the project and taking samples for whole genome sequencing by Illumina (company). The successful bidders designated as NHS Genomic Medicine Centres are:
- East of England NHS GMC – designated for both cancer and rare disease. Led by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- South London NHS GMC – designated for both cancer and rare disease. Led by Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
- North West Coast NHS GMC – designated for both cancer and rare disease. Led by Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust
- Greater Manchester NHS GMC – designated for both cancer and rare disease. Led by Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- University College London Partners NHS GMC – designated for both cancer and rare disease. Led by Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
- North East and North Cumbria NHS GMC – designated GMC for rare disease only. Led by The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Oxford NHS GMC – designated for both cancer and rare disease. Led by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
- South West Peninsula NHS GMC – designated for both cancer and rare disease. Led by Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
- Wessex NHS GMC – designated for both cancer and rare disease. Led by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
- Imperial College Health Partners NHS GMC – designated for both cancer and rare disease. Led by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
- West Midlands NHS GMC – designated for both cancer and rare disease. Led by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
In December 2015, two new NHS Genomic Medicine Centres were announced by NHS England:[7]
- Yorkshire and Humber NHS GMC - designated for both cancer and rare disease.
- West of England NHS GMC - designated for both cancer and rare disease.
There are now 13 designated Genomic Medicine Centres (GMCs) across the country.
See also
References
- ↑ "The 100,000 Genomes Project | Genomics England". www.genomicsengland.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
- 1 2 "Jeremy Hunt launches genomics body to oversee healthcare revolution". http://www.theguardian.com. Retrieved 12 September 2014. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ "The Board - Genomics England". http://www.genomicsengland.co.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2014. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ Gallagher, James (1 August 2014). "DNA project 'to make UK world genetic research leader'". BBC News. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ↑ "The 100,000 Genomes Project by numbers". http://www.genomicsengland.co.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2014. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ First children diagnosed in DNA project by James Gallagher published by BBC News on January 12, 2016
- ↑ "NHS England » New NHS centres add their might to world-leading genomics project". www.england.nhs.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-17.