An ambitious project to sequence 100,000 genomes is making great progress: All 13 NHS Genomic Medicine Centres are recruiting rare disease and cancer patients to the project, and initiatives in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are joining this world leading programme. There are nearly 20,000 genomes in the project’s datacentre, and the research groups are collaborating with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Bioresource BRIDGE Studies to bring the total even higher.

The project is building the infrastructure to collect and analyse data, and a unique research database, which in turn will lead to better outcomes for patients. The UK is leading the world in ensuring the collection of quality cancer samples suitable for DNA sequencing in an everyday hospital setting. This is part of ensuring that the NHS can deliver genomic medicine in routine healthcare in the future.

The NHS Genomic Medicine Centres are organising various activities and have issued an update on the project to mark Rare Disease Day today (28th February). Read more about the project here.