Plans to sequence five million genomes in five years

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has announced an ambition to sequence five million genomes in the UK over the next five years to allow faster diagnosis and personalised care.

From 2019, all seriously ill children will be offered whole genome sequencing as part of their care, as will adults with certain rare diseases or hard-to-treat cancers. Where patients are asked to give consent for their genome data to be securely analysed, researchers will develop new tests and treatments for cancer and rare diseases.

The NHS Genomic Medicine Service will expand on existing projects such as the 100,000 Genomes Project and see one million whole genomes being sequenced by the NHS and medical research project UK Biobank in five years, supporting Hancock’s wider ambition to sequence five million genomes in the UK.

Hancock said: “I’m proud to announce we are expanding our 100,000 Genomes Project so that one million whole genomes will now be sequenced by the NHS and the UK Biobank. I’m incredibly excited about the potential for this type of technology to improve the diagnosis and treatment for patients to help people live longer, healthier lives – a vital part of our long-term plan for the NHS. Today’s commitments form part of our bold aspiration to sequence five million genomes in the UK, using ground-breaking technology to do this within an unprecedented five-year period.”