Population Genetic Testing

Innovation Type: Care Model

Speciality:

Innovation Origin: NHS Innovator Accelerator (NIA)

Model of care for testing populations to identify individuals at higher risk of breast and ovarian cancers because they carry the BRCA1/2 genes

Testing for breast cancer gene mutations (BRCA) is currently only offered to women based on clinical criteria or family history of cancer. This approach misses over half at-risk BRCA carriers, which can be overcome by offering BRCA-testing to everyone irrespective of family history.

Population Genetic Testing offers unselected testing for BRCA mutations with an initial focus on a high-risk Ashkenazi Jewish population where 1 in 40 individuals carry specific faults in BRCA1/BRCA2 genes. 

Carrying out BRCA-testing on this population (proven to identify over 50% additional BRCA carriers), and identifying those at risk, can enable early detection and prevention of breast and ovarian cancers. 

For more information, please visit: https://nhsaccelerator.com/innovation/population-genetic-testing/