Genomics

We were at the House of Commons yesterday discussing the importance of genomics in revitalising the UK life sciences sector, and the role of genomics in shaping the future of the NHS. 🧬 Hosted by Simon Opher MP and Chamber UK, the event included Andrew Gwynne MP; Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser to the DHSC; Stephen Powis, National Medical Director of NHS England; and Sir Mike Richards, Chair of the UK National Screening Committee. With the NHS 10 Year Plan, it’s more important than ever that new technologies are adopted by the health system for better patient outcomes. The event focused on using genomics for prevention in the NHS, utilising next-gen sequencing technologies to enable early risk prediction. There was also discussion on how to expand screening programmes in the NHS, including in #cancer. These topics are close to our hearts. Our recent research at Genomics showed that genetically high risk individuals reached the risk levels associated with usual starting screening ages 12.4 years earlier, on average. In other words, if a screening programme were devised on the basis of the average risk facing a 50-year-old, this high risk group would have the same predicted risk at the age of 37.6. Recommendations for earlier screening for genetically very high risk groups ranged from four years in advance for abdominal aortic aneurysm, to 22 years for hypertension. Genetic risk scores therefore could powerfully help the shift towards prevention in the NHS. Thank you for a wonderful event, and thank you to our very own Sneha Narasimhan, MD, PhD, Associate Medical Director, for representing our organisation. #lifesciences #genomics #NHS #breakthrough #preventativehealthcare #screening #prevention

Over 150 Genomics employees, from across our 5 offices around the world, gathered yesterday to celebrate our achievements in 2024, and to look ahead to an incredibly exciting 2025! 👏 🧬 🌍 From publishing world-leading, award-winning scientific studies, to clinical partnerships, to pioneering work in life sciences… we’ve had an incredible year. 🏆 Just a few highlights include: 🧬 our successful clinical trial in the NHS, which proved the clinical implementation and use of polygenic risk scores ✍ our work being featured in high-profile pieces in The Times, Financial Times, The Telegraph, and Bloomberg across the year 🔬 new and expanding partnerships in life sciences, with both big #pharma and #biotech, helping R&D teams across the value chain identify novel targets, and improve the precision of clinical trials 💡 being recognised as thoughts leaders, such as speaking in the UK House of Lords about the use of #AI in medicine 🏥 our partnership with the flagship preventative health programme Our Future Health UK, for which we exclusively handle the genetic component, which reached 1.2 mln people 🤝 our partnership with Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company, which received incredibly positive reviews from those who took the test But most importantly, we all met in person to celebrate our people. We are proud to have the world’s best scientists in what they do, and incredible talent across every aspect of our company - all united by a single vision to help people live longer, healthier lives through the power of genomics. 💪 Thank you to all who made this year so special. Here’s to 2025! 🚀 #genomics #culture #breakthrough #lifesciences

We've been featured in GenomeWeb's Year in Review article, which outlines that polygenic risk scores (PRS) are ready for clinical adoption, as several studies published in 2024 demonstrated the clinical utility and feasibility of implementing PRS into clinical workflows. The article features our successful trial with NHS England with GPs, which showed that Genomic Prevention fits in standard GP workflows, was very popular with patients, and that the approach both changed the management of a significant number of patients, as well as evolved the nature of the GP - patient conversation about prevention. The piece also covers our partnership with Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company. Our Health Insights product, available in the US, provides individuals with personalised information about their risk for seven common diseases, with advice on steps the individual can take to reduce their risk, and a report they can pass on to their doctors. This is done in a way that the life insurance company does not know which of their policyholders have taken the test, and doesn’t see the genetic results, or the individual reports. At Genomics, over the course of this year, we have advanced PRS applications across life sciences, health insurance, health systems, and employers. Watch this space for more to come in 2025! 🚀 #NHS #PRS #genomics #preventativehealthcare #health

Our work on preventing and treating obesity using genetic information has been featured in The Times Raconteur Future of Healthcare Report! 🚀🧬 The article features our CEO and Founder Sir Peter Donnelly’s keynote speech at Bupa’s 2024 Healthcare Symposium: Unboxing Digital Health, where we unveiled the results of our latest study, which showed how a person’s genetic profile has a direct influence on their BMI and subsequent risk of developing obesity. In the UK, over 60% of adults are overweight or obese, which increases risk of serious complications, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Overweight and obesity is estimated to cost the health system £11 billion a year. “We need to change the discourse around being overweight, from a culture of blame and guilt to focusing on how best to help people overcome these challenges,” said our CEO and Founder, Sir Peter Donnelly. “We know our research, and others’, shows that a healthy lifestyle can prevent obesity and comorbidities even in individuals with a high genetic risk. However our research shows that those at high risk of obesity will need more support to help them stay at, or return to, a healthy weight. It also shows that the effort required for those with a high genetic risk is much greater.” “It’s clear that healthcare initiatives that take into account genetic profiles would be significantly more effective in helping people stay healthier for longer. This information means we have a golden opportunity to develop much more sophisticated, personalised, and successful obesity-prevention programmes.” #obesity #genetics #genomics #NHS #prevention #preventativehealthcare #breakthrough #science #heartdisease #cancer #diabetes #PRS

Our Head of Medical Seamus Harrison represented our organisation at the UK House of Lords yesterday, where we shared our views on AI in healthcare. The use of AI and Machine Learning has transformative potential to enhance patient outcomes. The UK is well-placed to leverage these technologies, with excellent health data resources available to validate these tools. It is also essential to maintain diversity in our datasets: new technology must be used to tackle health inequalities, rather than perpetuate them. At Genomics, we are well-placed to contribute to this increasingly prominent conversation. Thank you UKAI for organising the discussion! #UKAI #AIRegulation #AIOAP #healthcare #healthcareinnovation #UKGovernment AI Safety Institute #AI #diversity

Our ground-breaking study on preventing premature mortality using the power of genomics has been featured in the Financial Times! 🧬 👏 The article focuses on our latest research presented at the American Society of Human Genetics last week, which won the ASHG’s Reviewer’s Choice Award. 🏆 Our study, in collaboration with Stanford University School of Medicine, showed that using our proprietary polygenic risk scores (PRS) to guide screening programmes and subsequent interventions could prevent 24.5% of premature, preventable deaths by identifying those at high risk of common chronic diseases. “Knowledge of genetic risk, measured using PRS, has the potential to deliver substantial public health benefits and can prevent significant premature mortality by tailoring existing screening programmes,” said Peter Donnelly, paper co-author and our Founder and Chief Executive. “We are excited about the potential of genomics in addressing the significant public health challenge of premature mortality,” commented Jack O'Sullivan MD, PhD, paper co-author at the Stanford University School of Medicine. “By leveraging genomics, we envision a future where patients can experience more personalised care.” The article also includes independent comment from Tim Frayling, professor of human genetics at the University of Geneva, who added that our work demonstrates a “credible and important” case for why a simple genetic predictive test covering multiple common conditions “could and should be used". 👏

Our latest ground-breaking work on the genetics of obesity has been featured in The Telegraph! 🚀 The article discusses our study presented at the American Society of Human Genetics 2024. 🧬 🏆 It also mentions our clinical trial with the NHS, our health insurance partnership with Bupa, and our founder and CEO Professor Sir Peter Donnelly's thoughts on the potential of #genomics to address major public health challenges: “Obesity and overweight puts over 60 per cent of adults in the UK at an increased risk of serious complications, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. “Genetic risk scores are the essential missing piece of the puzzle in addressing one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. “Our research shows that those at high genetic risk of obesity will need personalised support to help them stay at, or return to, a healthy weight. “It is clear from these studies that prevention advice and public health initiatives which take into account genetic profiles would be significantly more effective in helping people stay healthier for longer. “Based on genetics, some of us will need much more support and help than others to maintain a healthy weight, and it is critical that our prevention and treatment programmes recognise this.” #obesity #genetics #genomics #NHS #prevention #preventativehealthcare #breakthrough #science #heartdisease #cancer #PRS ps://https://lnkd.in/esTcRjds

I had the recent pleasure of interviewing Sir Peter Donnelly, Founder and CEO of Genomics. Congratulations are in order as the article made it into Modern Insurance Magazine prestigious Editor's Pick section. Congrats to Sir Peter and the Genomics team on its recent partnership with Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company. Read on to learn more about genetic- based medicine and new directions in healthcare enabling policy holders to live healthier, happier and longer lives. "Genetics in medicine is not merely about rare diseases or major cancer genes; it is about forging new and better ways for understanding, treating, and preventing common diseases." https://lnkd.in/eBr5yrCF Amelia Barlow Sears Merritt Vincent Plagnol David Thornton Insurtech Insights

Really looking forward to this session and the opportunity to discuss how Genomics is working with Our Future Health to support population health.

We are at the American Society of Human Genetics this week in Denver, Colorado, where our Head of Medical Seamus Harrison is speaking about the latest in the field.🧬 At #ASHG2024, we will also be unveiling two new ground-breaking studies, so come along to our poster presentations - and watch this space! 🙌🏆 #genetics #genomics #preventativehealthcare #breakthrough