UK sufferers will profit from a brand new partnership with Thailand to share experience of genome sequencing, collaborate in analysis, training and coaching alternatives, information alternate and genomics information dealing with.
Yesterday afternoon (Thursday 19 January) the Memorandum of Understanding was signed by UK Well being Minister Lord Nick Markham CBE and Thailand’s Minister for Public Well being and Deputy Prime Minister H. E. Anutin Charnvirakul. Each nations have dedicated to working collectively on genomics and understanding uncommon and undiagnosed illnesses and most cancers, in addition to constructing stronger educational and institutional hyperlinks by working teams that would begin as early as February 2023.
The collaboration will enable the 2 nations to raised share data on genomics, the examine of individuals’s DNA, together with Genomics Thailand’s 50,000 Genome Initiative and the UK’s pioneering 100,000 Genomes Undertaking led by Genomics England.
Genomic sequencing can velocity up prognosis of most cancers, guarantee sufferers with treatable diseases obtain therapy sooner and enhance our understanding round how well being outcomes differ by ethnicity to deal with inequalities.
A key lesson learnt from the Covid pandemic was that collaboration with worldwide companions is essential to constructing our personal resilience to well being threats. Thailand has world-leading genomics capabilities, so the landmark new partnership will assist to broaden the UK’s experience on this discipline and cement our standing as a worldwide life sciences superpower.
Genomics has the ability to revolutionise healthcare within the UK and the world over, so it’s good to be becoming a member of palms with Thailand for this thrilling partnership. Each nations share the widespread aim of enhancing our healthcare techniques with modern know-how and scientific understanding to cut back inequalities and in the end save lives.
We sit up for working carefully with our counterparts in Thailand to bolster our skill to supply prognosis for uncommon illnesses and develop cutting-edge remedies.
By our dedication to sharing information, exploring coaching alternatives and pioneering joint analysis initiatives we will collaborate to ship higher well being outcomes at decrease prices.”
Lord Nick Markham CBE, UK Well being Minister
Chief Government of the UK Well being Safety Company Dame Jenny Harries mentioned:
“Bettering the world’s skill to watch and detect newly rising pathogens is important for international well being safety. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated clearly how very important genomic surveillance is in serving to us detect and put together for brand spanking new risks to international public well being.
“Worldwide co-operation is a vital a part of creating this functionality. I welcome this settlement with the federal government of Thailand which is able to strengthen our skill to carefully monitor and reply to new well being threats. I sit up for a fruitful and productive collaboration.”
Thailand’s Minister for Public Well being and Deputy Prime Minister H. E. Anutin Charnvirakul mentioned:
“That is the primary partnership between Thailand’s Ministry of Public Well being and the UK’s Division of Well being and Social Care. It marks an vital step for genomics collaboration between the 2 nations.
“With mutual curiosity, Thailand and the UK will come collectively to share information and greatest practices in genomics medication, together with information dealing with, in the end to assist deal with and shield the individuals from illnesses that we might have by no means been ready to take action earlier than.”
Chief Scientific Officer for Genomics England Professor Matt Brown mentioned:
“The potential for genomics to revolutionise the best way we ship healthcare is nice and we’re already beginning to see this transformative science being adopted throughout many areas of medication. We’re delighted to companion with Thailand and share our information and expertise to place the promise of genomics into apply and produce advantages for sufferers worldwide.”
Constructing on the success of the ground-breaking 100,000 Genomes Undertaking – which has already helped diagnose uncommon illness in tons of of kids – the federal government lately allotted new funding to genomics to make sure a greater high quality of life for UK sufferers. In December 2022, £175 million was awarded in new genomics funding to make sure a greater high quality of life for our sufferers, placing the NHS on the entrance foot and affirming our place as a life sciences superpower.
This funding will construct on the world-leading work of the NHS Genomic Drugs Service, harnessing innovation to drive enhancements throughout the well being system.
The funding additionally included £25 million of UKRI-MRC funding for a UK-wide new initiative on useful genomics, an space of genomic analysis which makes use of molecular instruments akin to gene modifying to enhance understanding of how genetic variation results in illness and assist smarter diagnostics and the invention of recent remedies.
The Memorandum of Understanding builds on the Life Sciences Imaginative and prescient set out in 2021, which commits to delivering a world-class provide on useful genomics and the UK is in a powerful place to turn out to be a frontrunner on this space.
Notes to editors:
The NHS Genomic Drugs Service goals to allow the NHS to harness the ability of genomic know-how and science to enhance the well being of our inhabitants and ship on the commitments within the NHS Lengthy Time period Plan together with to:
- To be the primary nationwide well being care system to supply complete genome sequencing as a part of routine care, together with for all kids with most cancers or kids who’re severely sick with a probable genetic dysfunction.
- Elevated entry to molecular diagnostics and provide genomic testing routinely to all individuals with most cancers.
- Enhance early detection and therapy of high-risk situations together with increasing genomic testing for familial hypocholesterolaemia.
- Linking and correlating genomic information to assist present new remedies, diagnostic approaches and assist sufferers make knowledgeable selections about their care.
These commitments can be delivered by the NHS Genomic Drugs Service for England which is able to present:
- Constant and equitable take care of the nation’s 55 million individuals.
- Function to widespread nationwide requirements, specs and protocols.
- Ship a single nationwide genomic take a look at listing overlaying use of all applied sciences from goal genomic testing to complete genome sequencing.
- Give all sufferers a chance to take part in analysis for his or her particular person profit and to tell future take care of different sufferers.
- Construct a nationwide genomic information base to supply actual world information to tell educational and trade analysis and growth.
