Behind the Genes

In this episode of our explainer podcasts, we’ve asked Dr Natalie Banner, Director of Ethics at Genomics England, to answer in less than 15 minutes: what is the National Genomic Research Library and what is it used for? You can also find a series of short videos explaining some of the common terms you might encounter about genomics on our  YouTube channel . You can read the transcript here: What-i...

In this episode, Dave McCormick, member of the Participant Panel at Genomics England is joined by Jenny Taylor*, a valued member of our research community, and Professor Matt Brown, our Chief Scientific Officer, to discuss the last decade of genomic research at Genomics England. During this podcast our guests will consider: Is the National Genomic Research Library (NGRL) meeting its full potential...

For our World Sickle Cell Day episode, Marie Nugent, Community Manager for the Diverse Data initiative at Genomics England, is joined by John James OBE, CEO of the Sickle Cell Society, and Suzannah Kinsella from the James Lind Alliance. They discuss the new priority setting partnership for sickle cell and genomics, including the longer-term plan to engage communities to create space for learning a...

In this episode of our explainer podcasts, we’ve asked Greg Elgar, Director of Sequencing R&D here at Genomics England, to clarify in less than 10 minutes, what is whole genome sequencing. You can also find a series of short videos explaining some of the common terms you might encounter about genomics on our  YouTube channel . You can read the transcript here: What-is-whole-genome-sequencing.d...

In this episode, Shelley Simmonds, member of the Participant Panel at Genomics England, speaks to Louise Fish, CEO of Genetic Alliance UK , and Amanda Pichini, clinical lead for genetic counselling for Genomics England, to discuss how the patient journey has changed over the last 10 years for those living with rare conditions. This year, we're celebrating our 10-year anniversary, and in this speci...

In this episode, Vivienne Parry, the Head of Public Engagement at Genomics England, is joined by Helen Dolling, a researcher at the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge, Kym Winter, the Clinical Director and founder of Rare Minds, and Melanie Watson, the Lead Genetic Counsellor for the Wessex Clinical Genetic Services, to discuss the impact that a genetic diagnosis can have on...

We're going back to basics today, and in this explainer podcast, we’ve asked Greg Elgar, Director of Sequencing R&D here at Genomics England, to clarify in less than 10 minutes, exactly what is a genome. You can also find a series of short videos explaining some of the common terms you might encounter about genomics on our YouTube channel . You can read the transcript here: What-is-a-genome.do...

In this weeks' episode, Naimah Callachand, Head of Product Marketing at Genomics England, is joined by Tiggy Johnstone-Burt, a Macmillan Genomics Clinical Fellow and a clinical nurse specialist, Vicky Cuthill, a nurse consultant, and Sally Shillaker, a health visitor and practice development lead in genomics, to discuss how both nurses and health visitors play a vital role in the patient care path...

In this episode, our Director of Ethics, Dr Natalie Banner, is joined by Dr Nicola Byrne, the National Data Guardian for health and adult social care in England. Listen to find out more about the challenges of data governance in healthcare, people’s relationship to their health and care data, the importance of transparency and accountability in how data is used to support better outcomes from heal...

People often use the terms genetics and genomics interchangeably, but is this right? In the first of a series of explainer podcasts, we’ve asked Dr Rich Scott, Chief Medical Officer, and Deputy CEO here at Genomics England, to clarify in less than 10 minutes, exactly what these two terms mean and when we should use them. You can also find a series of short videos explaining some of the common term...

A survey of over 2000 British adults conducted by the Genetics Society found that trust in genetics is high and went up significantly during the pandemic. In this episode, our Head of Public Engagement, Vivienne Parry OBE, is joined by guests, Dr Adam Rutherford, geneticist, author, and broadcaster, Professor Laurence Hurst, Professor of evolutionary genetics and  Director of the Milner Centre for...

The Errol McKellar Foundation focuses on giving presentations and talks around the UK to raise the awareness of important men’s health issues, especially prostate cancer. Friends of Caswell Thompson (FOCT) is an organisation set up for, and dedicated to, raising awareness about prostate cancer in the BAME communities in Bristol and surrounding towns and villages through a range of activities, with...

On this episode, Lyra Nightingale, our ethics lead at Genomics England, is joined by Professor Anneke Lucassen and Dr Faranak Hardcastle in a deep discussion about ethics and data. They discuss the neutrality of data, cultural humility in research, the role of structural racism in science and the role of co-production in diversity. You can read our transcript here: https://files.genomicsengland.co...

What is the impact of the participant data from the 100,000 Genomes Project? Rebecca Middleton and Jillian Hastings Ward explore these questions and discuss how the science has evolved at Genomics England with our CEO, Chris Wigley, Head of Translational Genomics, Dr Suzi Walker (a.k.a. the gene detective!) and Clinical Director and Director of Quality, Dr Ellen Thomas. We are taking you back to t...

As we draw a close to 2022, Chris Wigley takes us through the best parts of the year in this short but sweet episode of The G Word. From our 10-year anniversary to GERS 2022 to our inspiring patient stories, Genomics England has achieved many milestones this year. We have enjoyed the privilege to speak to so many incredible people from across the world to talk about what we love most, genomics.   ...

Nicola Perrin MBE, who is a new non-executive director on the Genomics England Board, has also recently been appointed to the Board of UK Biobank, as well as being the CEO of the Association of Medical Research Charities that AMRC, an organisation that brings together and supports over 150 health and medical charities to enable and support high-quality research. View our transcript here: https://f...

This week we are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the announcement of the 100,000 Genomes Project. To mark this ground-breaking project, our Head of Public Engagement, Vivienne Parry OBE, is joined by two guests who have played a critical role over the last 10 years: Professor Sir Mark Caulfield, who led the strategic oversight and delivery of the project, and Jillian Hastings Ward, Chair of...

Genome Canada is an independent, federally funded not-for-profit organisation and a national leader for Canada’s genomics ecosystem. Working in partnership, and across sectors, they invest in, and coordinate, genomics research, innovation, data and talent to generate solutions to today’s biggest challenges. CEO Rob Annan joins us in an inspiring and fascinating discussion.    You can view our Tran...

Another brilliant session from the last genomics England Research Summit, where Chris Wigley spoke with Professor Dame Sue Hill and Vivienne Parry, about the state of genomics research and the pathway to clinical implementation. What does it take to scale an idea like whole genome sequencing diagnostics across an entire health service?    You can find our transcript here: https://files.genomicseng...

Genetic counsellors are a highly specialised group of healthcare professionals, who have the expertise to help patients and families understand complex information relating to genomics, as well as provide guidance and emotional support. Whether that's to understand their family history, make informed choices about genetic testing, or come to terms with a result or a new diagnosis. As genomics beco...

The Genomics England Research Summit is an exciting one-day event that explores the latest research and technology innovations from Genomics England, partners, and complementary fields. The summit covers all things genetics from Cancer Genomics, Emerging Technologies, Rare Diseases to Policies and Initiatives.   You can view our transcript, here: https://files.genomicsengland.co.uk/documents/Podca...

A doctor, a scientist, an entrepreneur, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning author is Siddhartha Mukherjee. His new book is called 'The Song of the Cell, An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human'. Siddhartha Mukherjee is a cancer physician and researcher. He is an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University and a staff cancer physician at Columbia University Medical Center. A Rhodes schola...

Before joining All of Us, Martin Mendoza served as director of the Division of Policy and Data at the Office of Minority Health in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, charged with developing health policies and initiatives to eliminate health disparities and advance health equity.   View our transcript here: https://files.genomicsengland.co.uk/documents...

Muslim Census surveyed 1,007 Muslims aged 18-65+ living in the UK to understand whether these pre-conceptions about Muslim’s attitudes towards health research and genomics more broadly, as well as health information, are based in fact. Our aim is for the findings to help explore how to engage with Muslims to increase Muslim representation in genetic research. Aman Ali, one of Genomics England's pr...

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Kate Grafton shares her journey with breast cancer at the Genomics England Research Summit hosted earlier this year. She talks living with breast cancer and the side effects of cancer treatments and the importance of engaging with the patient community. If you're a researcher wanting to understand how and where to connect with your patients, listen to this episo...