Genomics England is key partner in two HDRUK Digital Innovation Hubs
Today, Health Data Research UK (HDRUK) announced that seven data hubs are to be set up across the UK to speed up research for new medicines and treatments. This initiative will support quicker diagnoses, with the potential to save lives. The hubs will focus on curated, disease-focused datasets, clinical trials, and real world evidence. Genomics England is a key partner in two of these hubs: DATA-CAN and Discover-NOW.
DATA-CAN: Using cutting-edge research and innovation to benefit UK patients
DATA-CAN – the Health Data Research UK Hub for Cancer – aims to transform how cancer data from across the UK can be used to improve patient care. The hub will work with patients to bring their clinical data together and use this data to help develop improved cancer treatments, give patients faster access to clinical trials, and understand how we can improve NHS cancer services. The hub, hosted by UCLPartners, will be supported by patients, charities, clinicians, academic and industry-based researchers and innovators, and will involve cancer hospitals across the country. Other partners include Queen’s University Belfast, University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals, and IQVIA.
Working across all four nations of the United Kingdom, DATA-CAN is a unique partnership of NHS organisations, patients, charities, academia and industry working together to improve cancer care by harnessing anonymous clinical and genetic data to provide cancer patients with faster access to clinical trials, and to enable the development of new and improved medicines and treatment approaches.
The Hub will help us to provide the highest quality data allowing transformative change in cancer care
Dr Charlie Davie
DATA-CAN Director of UCLPartners
Patients want their data to be used to improve care. In fact they’re often surprised it’s not used already.
The work of the Hub and the new research it engenders will bring hope to the people who are diagnosed every year with this awful disease. One in two people will get cancer in their lifetimes and this Hub offers the hope and opportunity of saving 30,000 lives a year.
Jacqui Gath
Cancer survivor and patient advocate (ICPV/YHCRP)
Through the safe and secure curation of patient information Discover-NOW will create a step change in the way health information is accessed and analysed to accelerate the development of new treatments, devices and applications that support better management and prevention of a range of conditions. This work will benefit millions of people into the future and contribute significantly to the health and wellbeing of our population.
Dr Axel Heitmueller
Discover-NOW Director
As a London citizen I am hugely excited about this initiative and the benefits it will bring to patients and the public. Through bringing information that already exists about us as patients together and enabling researchers and scientists to access this in new and secure ways, the Discover-NOW Hub could be the key to unlocking new life saving treatments or even preventing killer diseases altogether. Data really can save lives.
John Norton
Citizen Partner of Discover-NOW
We are delighted to be part of these two important Digital Innovation Hubs. We have a unique opportunity in this country to unite across healthcare, industry and academia using our expertise in genomic data. This is an important demonstration of the UK’s commitment to lead on innovative and practical approaches, to improve research and patient outcomes. We look forward to collaborating with our partners on this important work.
Joanne Hackett
Genomics England’s Chief Commercial Officer
