Genomics 🧬 and personalised medicine is here, Chief Scientific Officer Sue Hill @CSOSue, @MRadford_DONi and @SigsworthJanice confirmed at a session I attended a session on genomics supported by Health Education England this week.
Judith Ellis when she was Chief Nurse at Great Ormond Street said repeatedly that the future was Genomics, yet I have to admit my knowledge of genomics if I’m honest is limited! Yes I was aware of the coverage when David Cameron launched the 100,000 genomes project back in 2012 and I was astounded to hear during the session that this target had been exceeded.
I’ve been following @GenomicsEngland on twitter for a while, and on the genomics England website https://www.genomicsengland.co.uk/ is a great animation admittedly aimed at children (but I have to admit I loved how well it explained things) talking about ‘glitches’ it’s well worth a watch! https://youtu.be/sn3_FlEbe0U
If you’re not a Children’s Nurse like me you may appreciate a more grown up explanation! https://youtu.be/X8eNFa6fpLs
For me though what’s most exciting are the benefits to patients. We heard of children who’d been diagnosed with with diabetes who’d received insulin injections having their lives transformed when their genomic profiles had clarified the medication that would work best for them, some now on oral medication and their lives had been transformed. It was narratives such as this that brought the potential for improving lives to life.
So what’s my role as a nurse, well the session was enlightening, if you get a chance to go to a session please do! I’d also recommend following Genomics 🧬 England. Health Education run wonderful short online sessions which are accessible for us all, and if you’re really keen there’s also an opportunity to do a Masters, there’s more info here https://www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/ 😉
Kath Evans Connecting 