Thousands of
patients will benefit from tests to match treatment to their DNA
NHS patients should be able to benefit from genomic technology
which can improve the health service’s understanding of the nature
of disease and mean that treatment can be tailored to patients’
individual genetic make up – providing the right treatment to the
right patient.
In its report to Government on genomic technology published
today, the Human Genomics Strategy Group, chaired by Professor Sir
John Bell, highlights the UK’s achievements in genetics research
to date and proposes a strategic vision to realise the future
benefit of genomics.
Considerable government investment over the past decade – more
than £50 million – has meant that genetic tests for more than
1,000 diseases, including sickle cell anaemia, cystic fibrosis and
some forms of cancer, are now available via the NHS. This has
resulted in large numbers of patients and their families
benefiting from a precise diagnosis. And now genomic technology
enables accurate molecular tests, often before the disease becomes
more advanced, so the patients can receive the right treatment sooner.
The independent cross-government advisory group was set up in
response to the 2009 House of Lords report on genomic medicine. It
draws on expertise from across Government and research institutes
and makes six recommendations to Government:
The recommendations are:
• to develop a cross-cutting strategic document, to set out the
direction on genomic technology adoption in the NHS;
• to develop a national central genomic data storage facility;
• that the NHS Commissioning Board should lead on developing
genomic technology adoption;
• to work to develop a service delivery model for genomic
technologies;
• that the NHS should continue to develop genomics education and
training; and
• to raise public awareness of genomic technology and its
benefits.
Chair of the Human Genomics Strategy Group, Professor Sir John
Bell said:
“Genomics expands our knowledge beyond single gene analysis to
the whole genome, increasing our ability to gauge an individual’s
risk of disease and support better diagnosis and treatment. The UK
is a leader in genomic research.
“The Human Genomics Strategy Group wants to see this position
maintained – and built upon. This will take a concerted effort
from all the key players in research, academia, industry and the NHS.
“Our recommendations to the Government lay out key steps that can
be taken now and in the near future to realise this goal.
“Adopting the recommendations in our report would lead to further
revolutionary developments in our ability to diagnose, treat and
prevent disease, and I urge the Government to consider these.”
The Government will respond to the six recommendations in due
course, but the Health Secretary has today announced that the NHS
will take forward plans to widen out access to molecular tests to
more cancer patients, which uses genomic technology as a tool to
provide targeted treatment for the individual patient.
In the past, the blanket prescription of drugs has meant cancer
patients received a range of drugs, which, it was hoped, would
benefit them. But in fact only some patients’ cancers would
respond. But now testing of tumours and patients will be able to
tell clinicians in advance whether a patient is likely to respond
to particular drug therapies.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:
“The promise of genomic technology, with its capacity to improve
our understanding of the nature of disease and how our genes can
inform our response to therapy, is immense but as yet
developmental. The ability to use molecular testing of cancers to
match individuals to the most appropriate treatment is revolutionary.
“The new developments can help patients to get the best
treatments to improve their chances of survival and their quality
of life. I am very pleased to announce that we are going to
develop a new commissioning and funding structure for molecular
tests for cancer. This means there will be a formal structure –
led by the NHS Commissioning Board – which will mean that more
cancer patients will get access to these tests.
“We want to make sure that all patients can benefit from these
tests - as soon as the tests are recommended by NICE. We have
therefore been working to establish a new system to ensure speedy
introduction of high quality tests. This is the way forward for
the future.”
Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said:
“Genomics research is a real strength in the UK and has the
potential to dramatically improve our understanding of disease.
This excellent report demonstrates the major impacts of advances
in this promising area of science. It provides a pathway to build
on and exploit the UK's expertise for the benefit of
patients and society.”
Sir Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome Trust, which spends
more than £100 million a year on genomic research, endorsed the
recommendations of the report.
“Our advancing ability to read and understand the genetic
code is already beginning to spark transformative improvements in
healthcare, by refining diagnosis and revealing the processes of
disease. The Government must act now to deliver Sir John Bell’s
excellent recommendations, so that the NHS builds the capabilities
and skills it needs if patients are to benefit.
“We particularly support the proposal to link genomic data to
patients' anonymised medical records through a secure
national centre, which would create an unparalleled resource for
research and diagnosis without compromising confidentiality or
privacy. It is also important to develop medical informatics
services that can make sense of complex genomic data, and to
update professional training to meet the challenges of the genomic age.
“We are committed to working with the Government to address
these challenges, building on the world-class genomics and
bioinformatics expertise available in the UK at the Wellcome Trust
Sanger Institute and the European Bioinformatics Institute.”
Notes to editors
For further information contact the Human
Genomics Strategy Group press office via the Department of Health
press office on 020 7210 5221.
A full copy of the Human Genomics Strategy Group (HGSG)’s report
can be found at http://www.dh.gov.uk
The HGSG was set up in 2010 with a remit to:
• monitor advances in genetic and genomics research, both basic
and translational, to evaluate their benefit to healthcare
services in the NHS and;
• develop, in partnership with other
stakeholders, a vision for genomics in the NHS.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk