Media Release
Date: 6 October 2016
RUH plays important part in genomics project
The Royal United Hospital, (RUH) Bath is involved in an important national project which aims to create a new genomic medicine service within the NHS for people with cancer and rare diseases.
Genomics is the study of genomes. Your genome is one whole set of your genes, plus all the DNA between your genes. By looking at the whole genome, scientists will be able to look at how disease develops and which treatments will be most effective.
Members from the West of England Genomic Medicine Centre (WEGMC), which the RUH is part of, visited the hospital recently to talk to staff, patients and visitors about the project, what genomic medicine is and how they can find out more about genomics.
Catherine Carpenter-Clawson, Programme Manager, WEGMC said:
“We are extremely proud to be involved in such a ground-breaking national project and are excited that RUH patients will soon be able to be part of the Genomes Project.
“We are looking forward to working with local healthcare clinicians and patients to ensure the success of both the project and the legacy of delivering a more personalised approach to treatment for people with rare diseases and cancer.”
Run by Genomics England, the project aims to collect and ‘decode’ 100,000 human genomes from patients with certain types of cancer and patients with rare diseases, plus their families. It’s hoped that in the future there will be new, more precise diagnostic tests and personalised treatments in the for patients who have conditions that are currently hard to treat.
For more information about this project, visit www.wegmc.org or for a national perspective on the programme: www.genomicsengland.co.uk.
ENDS
Notes to editor:
The WEGMC is one of 13 regional genomic medicine centres in England that have been set up to help the NHS gain a better understanding of the genetic causes of cancer and rare diseases. For more information visit: www.wegmc.org or for a national perspective on the programme: www.genomicsengland.co.uk.