Updates | Genomics England - Part 2

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Leading genomics expert awarded knighthood in the Queen’s birthday honours

Jun7

Professor Mark Caulfield, the interim Chief Executive at Genomics England and Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at Queen Mary University of London, has been awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Since 2013 Professor Caulfield has been instrumental in delivering the world-leading 100,000 Genomes Project, which hit its target of sequencing 100,000 whole genomes in 2018 and has already delivered life-changing results for patients.

This NHS transformation programme used whole genome sequencing to bring new diagnoses to people with rare diseases and to help choose cancer therapies.

Matching mitochondria – Important new research uses 100,000 Genomes Project data

May24

Scientists publish new research using data from the 100,000 Genomes Project rare disease programme

Scientists from the University of Cambridge have announced a discovery about the inheritance of mitochondrial DNA using data from the 100,000 Genomes Project. The scientists are part of the neurology domain of the Genomics England Clinical Interpretation Partnership (GeCIP). These important scientific findings represent the beginning of a stream of valuable discoveries that will come from the 100,000 Genomes Project data.

A major new dialogue has found the public are enthusiastic and optimistic about the potential for genomic medicine but have clear red lines on use of data

Apr25

The more widespread use of genomic medicine – applying knowledge about a person’s genetic information to guide and improve their healthcare – will change the relationship between the UK public and the NHS, according to a new report launched today. ‘A public dialogue on genomic medicine: time for a new social contract?’ explored public aspirations, concerns, and expectations about the development of genomic medicine in the UK. It was commissioned by Genomics England and co-funded by UK Research and Innovation’s Sciencewise programme in support of public dialogue on scientific and technological issues.

Qatar Genome Programme and Genomics England formalise collaboration

Apr18

Genomics England has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Qatar Genome Programme. The agreement lays the foundation for Qatar and the UK to develop a collaboration focusing on areas of research in genomics with global impact. The strategic research and development agreement aims to enable novel scientific discovery, and provide medical insights in genomics and precision medicine.

“This partnership aims to foster our shared goals for advancement of precision medicine and to facilitate common genomic research initiatives,” said Dr Richard O’Kennedy,

Industry collaboration already benefiting participants of 100,000 Genomes Project

Apr17

Alexion and BioMarin, both members of Genomics England’s Discovery Forum, have identified previously undiagnosed patients with life-threatening kidney and neurological diseases.

Diagnosing children likely to develop kidney failure

Nephronophthisis (NPHP) is a childhood genetic disorder primarily affecting the kidneys. It is rare (around 1 in 60,000 births) and usually results in kidney failure by the age of 15. It is responsible for 15% of cases of childhood end-stage renal failure – with no preventative treatments currently available.

Genomics England and industry partners complete first phase of liquid biopsy study

Apr16

Genomics England has announced the successful completion of the first phase of its collaboration with Inivata and Thermo Fisher Scientific to investigate the use of liquid biopsies in cancer. This is part of a pilot project aiming to:

assess the suitability of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) samples collected by the NHS during the 100,000 Genomes Project
perform objective technology evaluation of the various market offerings in liquid biopsy
generate evidence for the potential consideration of such technology implementation in future routine healthcare for better disease treatment or prevention

Inivata and Thermo Fisher Scientific analysed around 200 blood plasma samples,

Genomics England’s PanelApp software is now open source

Apr9

The software behind Genomics England’s PanelApp, a crowdsourcing platform for sharing and evaluating gene panels, has now been made publicly available for the scientific and clinical community to use. Data from the 100,000 Genomes Project will not be shared or be made open source.

By making the PanelApp software open source, scientists in organisations across the world will be able to upload their own data to create gene panels for research.

PanelApp is a knowledgebase of virtual gene panels for rare diseases and cancer.

What now for 100,000 Genomes Project participants?

Mar4

Participant Panel Chair Jillian Hastings Ward took the opportunity to grill Genomics England’s Chief Scientist and interim Chief Executive Professor Mark Caulfield on film while both were at the Festival of Genomics in January 2019. See some of the key answers below.

What are you going to do with the data sequenced through the 100,000 Genomes Project this year?

Our first priority is to get reports back to those who have not yet received a result.

The journey to 100,000 genomes

Dec6

Genomic potential

Pinpointing the beginning of the 100,000 Genomes Project isn’t easy. It could be argued that Crick, Franklin and Watson started it all in 1953; or Frederick Sanger’s pioneering sequencing technologies in the late ‘70s; perhaps the Human Genome Project in 2003; or even the UK10K project in 2008. Our journey, however, began in 2012 with the announcement of the Project and, in 2013, the creation of Genomics England to drive it to completion.

The 100,000 Genomes Project by numbers

Dec5

This update gives you the number of whole genomes sequenced so far against our target of 100,000. This figure is updated every month.

Thank you to everyone who has taken part and helped us to achieve this!

For background on our progress, see our previous update.

Genomes Sequenced = 100,000

Genomics England is wholly owned by the Department of Health & Read more >

A platform for progress – driving genomic vision, research, innovation and outcomes – a blog from Joanne Hackett

Nov28

Joanne Hackett, Genomics England Chief Commercial Officer, explores how November’s 4th Discovery Forum is helping to shape a genomics vision, research, innovation and outcomes.

Back in the summer I spoke of my pride in the Discovery Forum’s progress just a year after its inception. In this blog, I want to demonstrate what this really means in practice.

The Forum came together on 8 November with a truly heavyweight agenda.

Genomics England welcomes publication of the Code on Genetic Testing and Insurance

Oct23

The Department of Health and Social Care and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) have announced the publication of the Code on Genetic Testing and Insurance today.

The Code is an agreement between Government and the insurance industry – with a commitment from insurers to not ask customers about predictive genetic test results when applying for insurance.

The Code updates a previous agreement – known as the Concordat and Moratorium on Genetics and Insurance – which was renewed every three years.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announces ambition to sequence 5 million genomes within five years

Oct2

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, today set out an ambitious vision for genomic medicine in the NHS – with plans to sequence 5 million genomes over the next five years.

The announcement, made as part of the Secretary of State’s speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, recognises the critical importance of genomic medicine to the future of the NHS. Mr Hancock announced:

Expansion of the 100,000 Genomes Project to see 1 million whole genomes sequenced by the NHS and UK Biobank in five years.

What do we know about public attitudes to genomics?

Oct2

What do we know about public attitudes to genomics?

Ahead of a major public dialogue on genomic medicine, Ipsos MORI, Genomics England and Sciencewise have summarised recent findings on public attitudes to genomics, and identified areas for future research.

With support from Sciencewise, we have asked Ipsos MORI to find out how the public feel that the NHS should best take forward genomic medicine into its national programme of clinical care.

Genomics England-supported study reveals new opportunities for personalised TB treatment

Sep27

A new study led by the University of Oxford-based CRyPTIC consortium, working with Genomics England, Public Health England and the NIHR, reveals new opportunities for personalised medicine in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB).

The study, ‘Prediction of Susceptibility to First-Line Tuberculosis Drugs by DNA Sequencing’, demonstrates much greater accuracy in predicting the susceptibility of the bacterium to anti-TB drugs than had been expected.

Tribute to Professor Maria Bitner-Glindzicz

Sep22

Professor Mark Caulfield, Chief Scientist at Genomics England said:

We are desperately saddened to learn of the tragic death of Professor Maria Bitner-Glindzicz. Maria was an outstanding clinical geneticist and champion of people with syndromic hearing loss.

In the 100,000 Genomes Project she was one of the earliest colleagues to be involved with the programme and a wonderful contributor. Her kindness, indefatigable enthusiasm and wisdom was unwavering and she will be greatly missed by her patients,

New public dialogue on genomic medicine begins

Sep5

Genomics England is beginning a dialogue, with support from Sciencewise, to explore public aspirations, concerns and expectations about the development of genomics and genomic medicine in the UK. It will bring up to 100 members of the public together with clinicians, academics and industry to discuss in depth the science and issues of genomic medicine.

What is genomics?

Genomics is behind what’s known as ‘personalised medicine’.

Diversity of debate: the Discovery Forum comes of age – a blog from Joanne Hackett

Aug3

The 3rd Discovery Forum took place on 12 July 2018, bringing together hundreds of people from across the industry sector. Chief Commercial Officer Joanne Hackett writes down her thoughts about the day.

There’s great satisfaction in watching something we have helped to create develop a life and personality all of its own – which is why I took huge satisfaction at the Genomics England Discovery Forum on 12 July.

The Forum grew out of our original GENE Consortium,

Consent and participation in the 100,000 Genomes Project – public attitudes

Jul18

A new public dialogue on attitudes to sharing personal data as part of research has used the 100,000 Genomes Project as an example of best practice in obtaining consent.

The way that Genomics England obtained consent from participants in the 100,000 Genomes Project was praised by the public focus groups who took part in the project, run by the Health Research Authority (HRA) and Human Tissue Authority (HTA), who are now considering how best to use Genomics England’s approach as an example of good practice for future work and guidance for researchers on gaining consent.

A New Deal on Data – articulating the contract between science and people

Jun20

By Anna Middleton (Head of Society and Ethics Research at Wellcome Genome Campus), Vivienne Parry (Head of Engagement at Genomics England), Julian Borra (Citizen, Founder of Thin Air Factory)

Are you with us?

For most of us it is hard to unpick the various declarations, assurances and guarantees made regarding the sanctity of our data. Even the General Data Protection Regulation still feels quite far removed from the everyday lives of ordinary people and is seemingly absent of any consultation with them.