Being part of a study on this scale means more information will be available to help understand an individual’s likelihood of being affected by disease, earlier diagnosis, and more effective targeting of treatment.
- Dr Keith McNeil
Studying the genomes in detail – the molecular make-up - of individuals could lead to major breakthroughs in diagnosing and treating rare and inherited diseases and common cancers.
A Genomic Medicine Centre (GMC) could be set up to coordinate research carried out in Cambridge and across the region as part of the Department of Health’s project to sequence the genomes of 100,000 NHS patients by 2017. The bid has passed the first stage of the bidding process, with the final decision due to be taken next month.
The bid, led by CUHP on behalf of the East of England, builds on the strengths of Cambridge University Hospitals and its Cambridge Biomedical Campus partners in the field of genomics. The expertise of Leicester, Norfolk and Norwich and Nottingham teaching hospitals complements these strengths.
Professor Patrick Maxwell, Director of Cambridge University Health Partners and Regius Professor of Physic at the University of Cambridge said: “I am delighted that the Department has recognised the strength of our bid, which drew on the combined expertise found on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and from NHS partners across the region. If successful at the next stage, this will add extra impetus to the study of genomics already underway here in Cambridge, led by our outstanding clinicians and researchers.”
Dr Keith McNeil, Chief Executive of Cambridge University Hospitals, said:“The study of genomics is at the forefront of global efforts to diagnose and treat disease. Being part of a study on this scale means more information will be available to help understand an individual’s likelihood of being affected by disease, earlier diagnosis, and more effective targeting of treatment. This will massively strengthen the hand of our expert clinicians and researchers to help people live longer and healthier lives.”
The GMC will serve a population of 6.5m, providing a broad base of the population to study effectively, given one in 20 children is born with an inherited disease.
CUHP is a partnership between one of the world's leading universities and three NHS foundation trusts. It is delivering world-class excellence in health care, research and clinical education and improving health for people across the Cambridgeshire region and beyond. The NHS organisations in the partnership are those that work most closely with the University in performing research and education and that involve academic doctors in the delivery of their services: Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
The partners for this bid include CUHP, Leicester, Norfolk and Norwich and Nottingham NHS trusts and the East Midlands and Eastern Academic Health Science Networks.
CUHP is at the heart of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus , a community of world-leading academics, clinicians, scientists and businesses working together with patients, to improve healthcare and quality of life. Based on a single site south of the city centre, the campus supports ground-breaking research into the causes of disease, better prevention, faster diagnosis, more effective treatment and the best way to care for patients. In addition to cutting-edge scientific research, the campus contributes to national and local economic success by attracting global investment in medical research and innovation, and creating and sustaining jobs.
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Adrian Ient| Senior Media Relations Manager
Tel: 01223 274433 | Ext: 4433
http://www.cuh.org.uk
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