East Genomics unites patient care teams, scientists, researchers and educators to deliver the benefits of innovative and high quality genomic medicine to communities across the East Midlands and East of England.
Who we are
East Genomics incorporates:
- East Genomic Laboratory Hub (East GLH)
East GLH provides and coordinates genomic testing for 29 NHS trusts within East of England and East Midlands.
Our lead laboratory, which carries out the majority of tests for the region, is based at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This is supported by local genomic laboratories based at University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
You can read more about the East GLH here.
- East Genomic Medicine Service Alliance (East GMSA)
East GMSA has been set up to ensure equity of access to genomic testing across the region.
You can read more about East GMSA and its various transformational projects here.
Part of a national network
We are one of seven hubs (opens in a new tab) within England which together make up the National Genomic Medicine Service.
Benefits of genomic testing
Genomic sequencing delivers high impact diagnostic answers to patients, ranging from critically ill babies in intensive care to adults newly diagnosed with cancer.
Genomic medicine can transform lives by:
- enabling a quicker diagnosis for patients with a rare disease, rather than years of uncertainty
- matching people to the most effective medications and interventions, reducing the likelihood of an adverse drug reaction
- increasing the number of people surviving cancer each year because of more accurate and early diagnosis and more effective use of therapies.
Improving access and speeding up diagnosis
The National Genomic Medicine Service network has been set up to improve patient access for genetic testing and support the development of more personalised healthcare. The ultimate ambition is for patients with rare inherited diseases and cancer to be diagnosed and treated quicker than ever before, wherever they live.
The service allows clinicians to access testing for over 500 conditions, with some results being available in as little as three days. It also enables the identification of gene mutations in cancer cells which can be targeted by new drug therapies.
The UK is recognised worldwide as a leader in genomics and the unique structure of the NHS is allowing us to deliver these advances at scale and pace for patient benefit.
What we do
We provides core genomic testing using a variety of techniques for the diagnosis and monitoring of rare and inherited diseases, haematological malignancies and cancers. The service is designated as a specialist national testing centre for rare genomic diseases in neurology and endocrinology.
We are working to provide equal access to testing and hence timely diagnosis across a population of 8.3 million people. The East Genomic Service Medicine Alliance (East GMSA) has been set up with this as its core mission.
You can view the area we serve here.
Strong foundations
Our lead laboratory is based on Cambridge Biomedical Campus (opens in a new tab), at the heart of the UK’s and Europe’s leading life sciences cluster. The campus offers a vibrant, international healthcare community and is a global leader in medical science, research, education and patient care. It creates the optimum environment for the rapid and effective translation of research into routine clinical practice.
Because of the unique research environment in Cambridge, new genomic discoveries are being translated into patient benefits in areas as diverse as paediatric intensive care, breast cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. Through our involvement in the national genomic medicine service we are also able to share our local developments so that they can be considered and rolled out nationally.
The East of England is the home of genomic innovation. The term ‘genetics’ and the study of DNA were both born in Cambridge, the technique of DNA ‘fingerprinting’ was discovered in Leicester, and our region is rich in genetics-related research, teaching, and events.
Between 2012 and 2018 thousands of individuals and families from the East of England participated in the 100,000 Genomes Project. This groundbreaking initiative, led by Genomics England and NHS England, reached its goal of sequencing 100,000 whole genomes from NHS patients with a rare disease, their families, and patients with cancer in December 2018.
- If you are a patient or carer you may find our Your Questions Answered page useful