Jonathan Symonds appointed new Chair of Genomics England

Jonathan Symonds CBE is to be appointed the new Chair of Genomics England. Following the success of the 100,000 Genomes Project, Genomics England announces that its Chair, Sir John Chisholm will step down on 29 January 2019. Sir John, who has led the company since its inception in 2013, indicated his decision to leave to the Board once Genomics England realised its 5 year ambition to sequence 100,000 whole genomes in early December.

Jonathan Symonds has more than 30 years’ experience across a spectrum of life science enterprises.

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The journey to 100,000 genomes

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.

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The UK has sequenced 100,000 whole genomes in the NHS

Pioneering 100,000 Genomes Project reaches its goal and thanks all involved

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has today announced that the 100,000 Genomes Project, led by Genomics England in partnership with NHS England, has reached its goal of sequencing 100,000 whole genomes from NHS patients.

This ground-breaking programme was launched by then-Prime Minister David Cameron in 2012, with the goal of harnessing whole genome sequencing technology to uncover new diagnoses and improved treatments for patients with rare inherited diseases and cancer.

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The 100,000 Genomes Project by numbers

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

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

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.

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Helomics partners with Genomics England’s Discovery Forum to drive precision medicine for ovarian cancer

Helomics, a personalised healthcare company whose mission is to improve the standard of care for cancer through innovative precision oncology products and boutique CRO services, and Genomics England announced today that Helomics has become a full Discovery Forum partner. Helomics will utilize the rich de-identified genomics and clinical data set for the 100,000 Genomes Project to further develop its artificial intelligence-based precision oncology platform for ovarian cancer.

The 100,000 Genomes Project is a groundbreaking initiative,

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

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.

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Genomics England selects Congenica to provide clinical decision support services

Genomics England has chosen Congenica as its Clinical Decision Support Service partner to help deliver the new NHS Genomic Medicine Service, which rolls out this month.

The decision follows a competitive tender process involving the leading providers of genomic diagnostic decision support. Congenica’s SapientiaTM platform was selected using robust criteria that included usability, clinical accuracy, case throughput and commercial value.

SapientiaTM has already been validated within Genomics England’s 100,000 Genomes Project and will help clinicians,

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IQVIA and Genomics England launch the first real-world research platform with integrated clinical and genomic data

IQVIA™ (NYSE:IQV) and Genomics England today announced a collaboration to develop a platform that will connect clinical and de-identified genomics data to accelerate treatment advancements for patients. This alliance will enable faster and more efficient drug research, more robust evidence to support treatment value, and greater access to personalized medicines.

Using IQVIA’s E360™ platform, authorized researchers will have privacy-protected, technology-enabled access to Genomics England’s patient-consented, de-identified data to create custom clinical-genomic datasets and run leading-edge analytics on genomics and observable traits.

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

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.

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What do we know about public attitudes to genomics?

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.  

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

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.

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Tribute to Professor Maria Bitner-Glindzicz

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,

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New public dialogue on genomic medicine begins

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’.

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

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,

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

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.

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As the NHS celebrates 70 years Genomics England sequences its 70,000th genome

As the NHS celebrates its 70th birthday, Genomics England announces that it has now passed the 70,000 genomes mark. This milestone comes just five months after the 100,000 Genomes Project reached its halfway point – signalling that it is well on track to reach its goal of 100,000 genomes by the end of this year.

Genomics England has worked with the NHS to create the biggest national genome sequencing project of its kind in the world.

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

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.

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New genomics education and training resources from the Royal College of General Practitioners

Dr Jude Hayward and Dr Imran Rafi are Co-Clinical Champions for the Royal College of General Practitioners’ Genomics in Primary Care Programme. Here, they highlight resources created by RCGP to help general practitioners understand the impact and applications of genomics in primary care. 

Genomics testing is increasing and growing numbers of patients are likely to present to their GP practice, as the gateway to NHS care, with issues and questions relating to themselves or family members.

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