News | Genomics England

Home

Whole Genome Sequencing to diagnose TB

Mar29

Public Health England has announced that Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) is now being used to identify different strains of tuberculosis (TB).

This is the first time that WGS has been used as a diagnostic solution for managing a disease on this scale anywhere in the world. The technique, developed in conjunction with the University of Oxford, allows faster and more accurate diagnoses, meaning patients can be treated with precisely the right medication more quickly.

Scotland study to probe causes of rare diseases

Mar2

People in Scotland with rare genetic diseases are set to benefit from a DNA study that seeks to improve their diagnoses and treatments.

The study – launched by the Scottish Genomes Partnership in collaboration with Genomics England – will analyse the entire genetic make-up of 330 people with rare diseases and members of their family.

Using advanced computing to link genetic data with patients’ health information, scientists hope to pinpoint differences in their DNA code that may be responsible for their condition.

Genomics England selects QIAGEN hereditary and rare disease solution

Jan31

Genomics England today announce that it has selected QIAGEN’s HGMD® Human Gene Mutation Database for the 100,000 Genomes Project. HGMD is the leading content knowledgebase for interpretation of genomic data in hereditary and rare diseases, providing a deep resource of expertly curated data from the world’s scientific and clinical literature.

The 100,000 Genomes Project will use QIAGEN’s HGMD Online Professional solution, which is part of the QIAGEN Clinical Insight (QCI) portfolio of solutions for the interpretation of complex genomic data,

Intellia Therapeutics joins the GENE Consortium

Jan12

Today (12 January 2017), Intellia Therapeutics has joined the Genomics England Genomics Expert Network for Enterprises (GENE) Consortium, as the first dedicated genome editing company to participate in the 100,000 Genomes Project.

The GENE Consortium, established in March 2015, is the 100,000 Genomes Project’s industry partnership. Intellia will join 12 other companies who are working together in a pre-competitive trial. The collaboration aims to identify the most effective and secure way of bringing industry expertise into the 100,000 Genomes Project to realise future potential benefits for patients affected by rare diseases or cancers.

UK Prime Minister Opens New Sequencing Centre

Nov21

Today (21st November) Genomics England, Illumina, and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute hosted the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, at the opening of the Bridget Ogilvie Building on the Wellcome Genome Campus in Cambridge. This is where DNA sequencing for the 100,000 Genomes Project takes place.

It is also the site where the UK’s contribution to the original Human Genome Project took place over 15 years ago. The campus is now home to some of the world’s foremost institutes and organisations in genomics.

Genomics plc Appointed as Analysis Partner for the GENE Consortium

Oct17

Genomics plc, a leading analysis company developing an integrated platform to uncover the relationships between genetic variation and human disease, today announced that it has been appointed as Analysis Partner for the Genomics England Genomics Expert Network for Enterprises (GENE) Consortium. Genomics plc will be analysing genomes at an unprecedented scale and, together with the company’s existing knowledge base, be providing insights into human biology that will help to inform pharmaceutical R&D investment decisions.

GenomOncology’s Knowledge Management System to analyse cancer samples in the 100,000 Genomes Project

Sep23

Genomics England is partnering with GenomOncology LLC (GO) to utilise the GO Knowledge Management System (GO KMS) as a tool for clinical reporting enablement.

Genomics England will integrate the GO KMS as a key content driver to augment clinical reporting in the 100,000 Genomes Project’s cancer programme, coupling Genomics England curated database with the GO KMS’s data for a comprehensive clinical report comprised of the most relevant drugs, prognoses,

Genomics England Selects Inuvika as a Technology Partner for the 100,000 Genomes Project

Jul26

Genomics England has selected Inuvika as a technology partner to deliver the secure virtual desktop environment for the 100,000 Genomes Project.

Genomics England selected Inuvika’s Open Virtual Desktop Enterprise (OVD) to deliver secure access to the research environment for the 100,000 Genomes Project. Consisting of a Windows virtual desktop, datacentre hosted applications and associated de-identified datasets, OVD publishes the users’ environment so it can be securely accessed from a standard HTML5 enabled web browser from any location.

Professor Ewan Birney appointed to the Genomics England Board

May26

Genomics England is today (26/05/16) pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Ewan Birney, Director of the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and a Senior Scientist at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, to the Genomics England Board.

As a member of the Board, Professor Birney will play an important role in overseeing all of Genomics England’s activities, ratifying major decisions and setting the overall strategy for the organisation.

Genomics England was set up by the UK’s Department of Health to deliver the 100,000 Genomes Project,

New partnership with British Science Association as part of British Science Week

Mar15

To mark British Science Week (11-20th March), Genomics England is pleased to announce a partnership with the British Science Association (BSA).

Over the next few months, Genomics England and the BSA will be working together to run a series of Future Debates in the summer, as well as publishing a social intelligence report in the late spring.

Genomics England want to showcase the potential benefits whole genome sequencing can offer patients,

Socialising the Genome

Mar13

‘How easy is it to strike up a conversation about DNA and genomics? Geno-what?’

This is a challenge faced by scientists and the general public ever since the first human genome was mapped fifteen years ago. A new project, Socialising the Genome, is now underway to find out how to make genomics a more social concept.

The last Wellcome Trust Monitor survey said only 12% of the population would say they had a good understanding of what a genome is.

Scottish investment in genomic medicine

Mar1

Scottish Genomes Partnership backed by £6 million.

Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, Jamie Hepburn has announced a £6 million investment in the Scottish Genomes Partnership (SGP), ahead of a parliamentary reception to mark Rare Disease Day.

The SGP is a collaboration of Scottish Universities and the NHS capitalising on £15 million investment in whole genome sequencing technology by the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Genomics England Enters Bioinformatics Partnership with Illumina

Feb11

Genomics England and Illumina, Inc today announce a partnership to develop a platform and knowledge base that can be used to improve and automate genome interpretation. The tools will operate within the Genomics England secure database to enable researchers and clinicians to access information and reports more readily.

Genomics England is partnering with Illumina to develop and deliver systems for clinical interpretation, decision support and knowledge curation for the 100,000 Genomes Project.

Genomics England selects ICON as Data Management Partner

Feb9

Genomics England has today (09/02/16) announced that it has selected ICON plc, a global provider of drug development solutions and services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, as data management partner for the 100,000 Genomes Project.

ICON will use its genomics expertise and powerful data management capabilities to validate clinical data from the 70,000 participating patients and their families. This work will take place within the secure Genomics England data environment.

New NHS centres join 100,000 Genomes Project

Dec16

Two new NHS Genomic Medicine Centres have today been unveiled as being part of the unique, innovative and world-leading 100,000 Genomes Project.

Yorkshire and the Humber and West of England are the latest NHS Genomic Medicine Centres to be added to the 11 centres already up and running. They are expected to start their work in February next year.

The 100,000 Genomes Project was announced by the Prime Minister in 2012 in a bid to transform diagnosis and treatment for patients with cancer and rare diseases in the fast-emerging field of genomic medicine.

Genomics England Contracts with WuXi NextCODE as Clinical Interpretation Partner in both Rare Disease and Cancer

Nov12

Genomics England has today announced that it has contracted with WuXi NextCODE as a Clinical Interpretation Partner for the 100,000 Genomes Project. The China, US and Iceland-based company is the first to work with them on cancer samples and will also interpret samples in rare disease. Genomics England will work with the clinical interpretation partners to drive up the quality of interpretation of genomic data. This will lead to better understanding of disease and more personalised care for patients in the future.

Genomics England Selects Cognizant as a Technology Partner for the 100,000 Genomes Project

Nov4

Genomics England has selected Cognizant as a technology partner to help design and implement the IT operating environment for the 100,000 Genomes Project.

The 100,000 Genomes Project aims to sequence 100,000 whole genomes from NHS patients and their families, of which around 70,000 are participants with certain types of cancer or rare diseases. The project aims to enable new scientific discovery, medical insights and diagnostics. When completed, the NHS will be able to offer genomic medicine and personalised treatments to patients with conditions that are currently hard to treat.

Northern Ireland joins the 100,000 Genomes Project

Oct29

Health Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive, Simon Hamilton, today announced £3.3m investment to create a Northern Ireland Genomic Medicine Centre that will provide rare disease patients with a much earlier and more accurate diagnosis.

It is estimated that 1 in 17 people are born with or develop a rare disease during their lifetime. At least 80% of rare diseases have an identified genetic component, with 50% of new cases being found in children.

Genomics England selects LabKey Software for integrated data management solution

Oct15

Genomics England selects LabKey Software for integrated data management solution

Genomics England has chosen the LabKey Server open source platform to provide its integrated data management solution. Genomics England will work with LabKey to design and develop a solution that will integrate and securely share complex clinical and genomic data for the 100,000 Genomes Project.

The 100,000 Genomes Project aims to sequence 100,000 whole genomes from approximately 70,000 people.

Genomics England announces interpretation partners and expands industry engagement

Sep30

Genomics England has today (30th September 2015) announced that it has contracted with Congenica and Omicia to work with them on the interpretation of the genomes from 8,000 patients participating in the 100,000 Genomes Project. Work with LockheedMartin-Cypher, Nanthealth and WuxiNextcode continues as part of a test phase. This is in addition to ongoing work with sequencing partner Illumina who are also exploring a variety of bioinformatic challenges around sequencing and clinical interpretation.