UK Government Accelerates Investment in Genomics Research

The UK government has announced a £175 million investment in genomics research, including a study led by Genomics England, in partnership with the National Health Service (NHS), to explore the effectiveness of using whole-genome sequencing to find and treat rare genetic diseases in newborn babies.

For example, rare genetic thyroid hormone conditions, which are not detectable by the routine NHS heel prick test, and can cause developmental and learning difficulties and longer-term health complications without treatment. The study will sequence the genomes of 100,000 babies over the course of the study – which will begin in 2023 - and will gather evidence to consider whether this could be rolled out across the country.

The government also is funding a cancer program, led by Genomics England in partnership with the NHS, to evaluate genomic sequencing technology to improve the accuracy and speed of diagnosis for cancer patients and use artificial intelligence to analyze a person’s DNA, alongside other information such as routine scans.

Another program, led by Genomics England, will sequence the genomes of up to 25,000 research participants of non-European ancestry, who are currently under-represented in genomic research, to improve researchers’ understanding of DNA and its impact on health outcomes. One goal is to help reduce health inequalities.

Also funded is a UK-wide new initiative on functional genomics, an area of genomic research that uses molecular tools such as gene editing to improve understanding of how genetic variation leads to disease and support smarter diagnostics and the discovery of new treatments.

“We’ve made advancements in so many areas to improve people’s health – from ensuring ground-breaking new medicines get to patients faster to bolstering the NHS workforce to ensure we have record numbers - and this plan, backed by £175 million, sets out how we will use the latest genomic technology to go further,” said Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay, in a statement. “The potential for genomics to revolutionize the way we deliver healthcare is great – if we can detect treatable illnesses earlier and ensure patients access potentially lifesaving treatment faster, we could improve people’s lives across the county, including thousands of babies through this new pilot.”