To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his goal to sequence five million genomes will be realised; and what steps his Department will take to ensure that participants reflect the demographic make-up of the population.
Answered on
19 March 2019
Our bold aspiration is to sequence five million genomes in the United Kingdom over the next five years. Through UK Biobank and NHS England, we already have commitments to sequence at least one million whole genomes. We will set develop our plans for the remaining four million as part of the National Genomic Healthcare Strategy, announced on 27 February 2019. We anticipate working with partners in the devolved administrations, research institutions, charities and industry to realise this ambition.
The whole genome sequencing of the UK Biobank participants will reflect the diverse volunteer population. The whole genome sequencing through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service will be done for those eligible under the National Genomic Test Directory in order to provide consistent and equitable access to genomic medicine and sequencing. We will fully consider diversity issues as part of the delivery of the wider five million ambition.