Genomics England

Not to be confused with 100K Genome Project.
Genomics England logo

Genomics England is a company set up and owned by the UK Department of Health to run the 100,000 Genomes Project, which aims to sequence 100,000 genomes from NHS patients with a rare disease and their families, and patients with cancer. An infectious disease strand is being led by Public Health England.

History

Genomics England was established in July 2013 as a company fully owned by the UK Department of Health.[1][2][3] The company was launched by Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health on 5 July, in an announcement timed to coincide with the 65th birthday of the NHS.[3]

Board

The Board of Genomics England includes a number of notable scientists, including Sir John Chisholm (former chair of the UK Medical Research Council), Prof. Sir John Bell, Prof. Dame Kay Davies, Prof. Dame Sally Davies and Prof Mark Caulfield.[4] In addition to the delivery of the 100,000 Genomes Project, it is hoped that Genomics England will also mark the beginnings of a UK genomics industry and the start of a personalised medicine service for the NHS.[1]

In May 2016 Professor Ewan Birney, Director of the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and a Senior Scientist at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, was appointed to the Board.[5]

Activity

In August 2014, the Wellcome Trust announced that it was investing £27 million in a genome-sequencing hub for Genomics England, allowing the company to become part of the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, home to the Sanger Institute. On the same date, Prime Minister David Cameron unveiled a new partnership between Genomics England and the sequencing firm Illumina. Illumina’s services for whole genome sequencing were secured in a deal worth around £78million.[6]

The UK Government also committed £250 million to genomics in the 2015 Spending Review, which ensures the continued role of Genomics England to deliver the project, beyond the life of the project and up to 2021.[7]

See also

External links

References

  1. 1 2 "Jeremy Hunt launches genomics body to oversee healthcare revolution". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  2. ↑ "Jeremy Hunt launches genomics body to oversee healthcare revolution". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  3. 1 2 "DNA mapping to better understand cancer, rare diseases and infectious diseases". UK Government. 2013-07-05. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
  4. ↑ "The Board - Genomics England". http://www.genomicsengland.co.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2014. External link in |website= (help)
  5. ↑ "Professor Ewan Birney appointed to the Genomics England Board | Genomics England". Genomics England. 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  6. ↑ Gallagher, James (1 August 2014). "DNA project 'to make UK world genetic research leader'". BBC News. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "Cancer patients join genome sequencing project - News stories - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
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