Bowel Cancer UK to be part of Genomics England genome sequencing project for bowel cancer

Bowel Cancer UK CEO Deborah Alsina to be a member of bowel cancer Steering Group on genomic sequencing project

Bowel Cancer UK is pleased to announce that the charity will be part of the lead committee on bowel cancer in the Genomics England genome sequencing project. The Genomics England Clinical Interpretation Partnership domain for bowel cancer will be led by Professor Ian Tomlinson from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics in Oxford. Bowel Cancer UK’s CEO Deborah Alsina is on the Steering Group, and co-lead for Training and Education.

Genomics England run the 100,000 Genomes Project, a Department of Health-led project to sequence 100,000 whole genomes from NHS patients by 2017. The Clinical Interpretation Partnership for bowel cancer will analyse this data to look at how to use this whole genomes data to improve diagnosis and treatment of bowel cancer. The Steering Group also includes three of Bowel Cancer UK’s Medical Advisory Board: Dr Tim Iveson, Professor Dion Morton and Professor Richard Wilson.

Deborah Alsina said:

I am delighted that Bowel Cancer UK are part of the successful bid for the Clinical Interpretation Partnership for bowel cancer. This project has the potential to significantly increase our understanding of areas such as the development of bowel cancer in different populations, improvements in detection and diagnosis of the disease, and improvements in how to treat the disease. I am proud to be part of this project.

Professor Ian Tomlinson said:

This is a significant initiative that we hope will ultimately improve outcomes for people with bowel cancer. I welcome the fact that Bowel Cancer UK are centrally involved in this, as it is vital that the patient voice is represented in our work.

The Genomics England Clinical Interpretation Partnership is likely to last for several years.