Centres revealed for 100,000 Genomes Project

At the beginning of August Prime Minister David Cameron launched a £300 million human genome project to help break ground on genetic research and advance the availability of personalised medical treatments.

The project will give scientists and researchers the opportunity to decode 100,000 human genomes through a three-year project set out by the government.

“We want to make the UK the best place in the world to design and discover 21st century medicines

George Freeman MP

Today’s announcement marks the beginning of the project’s patient recruitment phase which is likely to officially commence from 2nd February 2015.

The 11 GMCs have been handpicked because of their proven track-records in providing excellence in genomic services and have been evaluated by NHS England to ensure they meet the requirements to deliver the project, a statement on the Genomics England website said.

It is anticipated that there will be over 75,000 participants involved in the main phase of the project, with eligible patients being referred to the GMCs by their clinicians.

Many of those participating in the 100,000 Genomes Project will have unprecedented access to conclusive diagnosis for rare and inherited disease, while for many others the benefit of having their genome decoded will mean improved knowledge on the influence of genetics on disease and how it is expressed in an individual, NHS England said.

Once a patients’ DNA is collected, it will be sent to Illumina, a genetic sequencing firm that has been acquired by Genomics England, to sequence the whole genome and to analyse it. Results will be sent back to the NHS for validation and clinical action.

“The creation of the new NHS Genomic Medicine Centres will allow engagement and feedback to patients with rare disease, cancer and infection from the 100,000 Genomes Project and represent the beginning of building a lasting legacy of infrastructure enabling us to deliver world-leading healthcare in the NHS,” said John Chisholm, executive chairman of Genomics England.

UK life sciences minister George Freeman said that through this project, our understanding of genomics and disease will rapidly transform.

“We want to make the UK the best place in the world to design and discover 21st century medicines which is why we have invested in the 100,000 Genomes Project,” Freeman said.

Likewise, Genomics England’s chief scientist Mark Caulfield said the GMCs will play a vital role in bringing together researchers, clinicians and trainees to work on Genomic England’s Clinical Interpretation Partnership.

“We have a clear goal of accelerating the findings from the programme back into mainstream healthcare at the fastest possible pace, meaning more rapid results for patients,” Caulfield said.

“For patients with rare diseases, we hope to help with diagnoses, for cancer patients we hope the programme will help to target medicines more appropriately and for infectious diseases it may help to generate new opportunities for therapies for these diseases.”