The 100k Genomes Project in Wessex - Progress and integration into care

The 100,000 Genomes Project involved collecting and decoding (sequencing) complete sets of people’s genes to help us understand more about rare diseases and certain common cancers.

The aim is to enable new medical research, and create a new genomic medicine service for the NHS – transforming the way people are cared for. The new tests can pinpoint the cause of disorders much more accurately which means that patients can receive targeted, personalised treatment. In time, patients who have sought a diagnosis for several years may finally find out the cause of their disease, with the exciting potential for new and more effective treatments designed for them.

In October 2018, the Wessex NHS Genomic Medicine Centre held an event to celebrate the transition from the national 100,000 Genomes Project to the new NHS Genomic Medicine Service, with Professor Dame Sue Hill (Chief Scientific Officer for England) presenting the national plans. Contributors from across the region showcased local achievements made as five year recruitment drew to a close.

Professor Dame Sue Hill said, "There's not been another partnership as strong as the partnership between this Genomic Medicine Centre and this Academic Health Science Network. Also the Wessex Deanery - and here, what's exemplified the future, is this alignment between clinical care, clinical practice, and academic medicine. The support of the Academic Health Science Network, the support of the Deanery, has all been important in that and the success that we celebrate tonight.

"There's been strong networking across the patch and strong engagement of the whole multi-professional team - across hospital sites, across specialisms, across professional groups right through to primary care.

"It's a huge thank you from me to all the people who are part of the team here and part of the broader team across this patch." 

Bill Gillespie, Wessex AHSN's Chief Executive, said of the event: "It's been a fantastic gathering of clinicians, academics, histopathologists, people involved in data, patients and parents. From a Wessex AHSN perspective we're both proud and humbled to be part of this project." 

Presentation slides and selected videos from the evening are available to view below.