Revolutionising our health with genomic sequencing
By understanding the exact DNA make up of a patient, and their susceptibility to disease, genomic sequencing makes it possible to predict, diagnose, and treat conditions more precisely and personally. It also makes it easier to prevent certain conditions from developing in the first place.
Put simply, it is probably the greatest medical revolution in human history.
Understanding the role our DNA and genetic makeup plays in our health can help us entirely transform how we think about our healthcare, and move us toward a system of preventing, rather than curing, disease.
Advancing genomic sequencing
In the UK, the NHS has committed to sequencing 1 million genomes – 500,000 genomes in the NHS and 500,000 in UK Biobank – in order to improve healthcare nationwide.
“Genomics saves lives, and I’m determined the UK stays at the forefront of this vital new technology,” remarked Matt Hancock, the former UK government Health and Social Care Secretary on the project.
“If we draw on ingenuity like this, we can keep up the fight against COVID-19, and also tackle the other things that stop us living healthier lives like cancer, dementia, and heart disease.”