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NHS Wales and Illumina Expand Partnership to Advance Genomic Cancer Detection and Personalized Medicine

NextEdge Admin

09 Nov 2024

2 min 59 sec

Illumina,earlier detection,personalized treatments

NHS Wales has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Illumina, expanding their partnership on genomic profiling initially focused on lung cancer diagnosis via liquid biopsies. This agreement will extend liquid biopsy-based multi-cancer early detection (MCED) techniques to other cancers, enhancing prevention, early diagnosis, and personalized treatments through comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP). Illumina’s Galleri test, initially developed under its MCED division Grail, detects multiple cancers by analyzing fragments of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in blood, and this MoU could introduce similar advanced diagnostic tools into NHS Wales’ clinical practice.

The Welsh Government envisions this partnership as transformative for cancer care, supporting NHS Wales’ goal to improve preventative measures and catch cancers earlier, increasing treatment effectiveness. Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles, highlighted the MoU’s potential to reshape cancer prevention and personalized care in Wales. Miles remarked that strategic industry partnerships like this one aim to position Wales at the forefront of genomics, helping build healthcare resilience by pooling expertise and optimizing resources.

The initiative is a natural progression from Wales' 2017 Genomics for Precision Medicine Strategy and the Genomics Delivery Plan for Wales 2022-2025, both calling for nationwide clinical integration of next-generation sequencing (NGS). These plans aim to boost genomics sector growth in Wales, coordinating testing and supporting emerging technologies through investments and grants.

Currently, NHS Wales utilizes circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) tests to assess genetic markers for targeted treatments—such as EGFR and KRAS mutations—mainly in advanced lung cancer patients when tissue samples are unavailable. This collaboration, supported by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff University, Public Health Wales, Life Science Hub Wales, and Genomics Partnership Wales, will broaden MCED applications to more cancers. The Galleri test and similar innovations are expected to contribute to earlier detection, personalized treatments, and improved patient outcomes in Wales.