HEE Mar 15.10
Board Meeting
Meeting Date
24 March 2015
Report Title
Genomics Education Programme update
Paper Number
HEE Mar 15.10
Report Author
Simon Young
Lead Director
Nicki Latham
FOI Status
Published
Report Summary
This report gives:
 An introduction to the 100,000 Genomes Project and the
HEE Genomics Education Programme
 Aims and objectives of the education and training, and
workforce planning, strategy
 Education and training resources in place/planned
 Metrics that the HEE programme will be measured by

Approval

To Note

Decision
To note the progress made so far, and future ambitions of, the
HEE Genomics Education Programme
Purpose
(tick one only)
Recommendation
Strategic Objective Mandate, Government’s 100,000 Genomes Project
Links
Identified risks and No risks associated with this report
risk management
actions
Resource
implications
The Genomics Education Programme receives additional
funding from DH for its duration to 2017/18
Support to NHS
Constitution
Supports the NHS constitution
Legal implications
including equality
and diversity
assessment
The Genomics Education Programme largely uses existing
interventions/methods to deliver education and training
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Genomics Education Programme update
Introduction
The 100,000 Genomes Project is a landmark project to sequence 100,000 whole genomes
of NHS patients with cancer or a rare disease by the end of 2017. Over time, as the
understanding and knowledge about how genomics influences disease improves,
generations of NHS patients will benefit from this lasting legacy by receiving an earlier
diagnosis and better, more targeted treatments.
This legacy will require not only the advancement of scientific discovery and medical
insights, but a workforce that is equipped and able to take those advancements and put
them into practice.
Future benefits from the 100,000 Genomes Project include:
•
Prediction and earlier detection of disease prevents diseases from developing,
allowing treatment to be administered much sooner, saving and extending lives
•
Earlier diagnosis for patients reducing stress and uncertainty
•
More precise and targeted treatments, reducing adverse side effects and improving
drug safety
•
Whole genome sequencing is a cost effective and clinical grade one test that is used
throughout the NHS
There are five key partners involved in the 100,000 Genomes Project. HEE is one of those
five – receiving £20m of funding (to 2017/18) – with the others being:
•
Department of Health – funding and overseeing the project
•
Genomics England – manages contracts for sequencing DNA, and through
Genomics England Clinical Interpretation Partnerships (GECIPs), the analysis and
interpretation of sequences. It also manages the secure storage of the data
generated
•
NHS England – commissioning 11 (so far) NHS Genomics Centres (NHS GMCs)
which, from March, will recruit patients to the project, collect their DNA and, once
interpreted, feedback to patients the results and any subsequent treatment options
(see box 1, over)
•
Public Health England – focussing on the potential importance of whole genome
sequencing in some infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, in public health
responses and the implications for the clinical care of patients
There has already been some early success. On 11 March, the Secretary of State for
Health, and health minister George Freeman MP, visited Newcastle. Two families have been
diagnosed with rare conditions as part of a project at Newcastle Hospitals and University
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that used an analysis of their genomes to properly understand the health issues they are
experiencing. They will now receive effective, personalised treatment, as well as helping
prevent future generations who share their DNA having uncertainty about similar symptoms.
Box 1
NHS Genomic Medicine Centres
•
East of England NHS GMC (cancer and rare disease). Led by Cambridge University
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
•
South London NHS GMC (cancer and rare disease). Led by Guy’s and St Thomas’
NHS Foundation Trust
•
North West Coast NHS GMC (cancer and rare disease). Led by Liverpool Women’s
NHS Foundation Trust
•
Greater Manchester NHS GMC (cancer and rare disease). Led by Central
Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
•
University College London Partners NHS GMC (cancer and rare disease). Led by
Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
•
North East and North Cumbria NHS GMC (rare disease only). Led by The Newcastle
upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
•
Oxford NHS GMC (cancer and rare disease). Led by Oxford University Hospitals
Foundation Trust
•
South West Peninsula NHS GMC (cancer and rare disease). Led by Royal Devon &
Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
•
Wessex NHS GMC (cancer and rare disease). Led by University Hospital
Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
•
Imperial College Health Partners NHS GMC (cancer and rare disease). Led by
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
•
West Midlands NHS GMC (cancer and rare disease). Led by University Hospitals
Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
HEE genomics education programme strategy
The HEE Genomics Education Programme team is in the process of developing a strategy
for education and training, and workforce planning, which will have three main aims:
1. To support the education and training needs to deliver the 100,000 Genomes Project
2. To provide education and training opportunities for current workforce transformation
– raising awareness towards building a genomics-literate wider workforce, and
increasing the knowledge and skills of the workforce directly utilising genomics
3. To identify the education and training needs and opportunities necessary for the
future workforce to fulfil the potential that genomics brings to healthcare – working
towards implementation
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In order to meet the aims of the strategy, HEE will need to fulfil the following three
objectives:
•
meet immediate education and training needs
•
develop education and training for the existing workforce
•
plan education and training for the future workforce
In addition, the strategy aligns with key themes in HEE’s 15 year Strategic Framework and
the Five Year Forward View:
•
mainstreaming of genomics as a key driver of change in health and healthcare;
•
the impact genomics is likely to have on people and patients of the future; and
•
the characteristics of the future workforce that will be needed in order to meet the
anticipated needs of people and patients
The draft genomics strategy (due to be completed by the end of March) will be widely
consulted on. Key to meeting the objectives will be engaging and working in partnership with
organisations across health and science – this will include a system-wide genomics
education and training symposium planned for September 2015.
Education and training resources
The education and training resources being developed as part of the programme support the
immediate needs of the 100,000 Genomes Project and (to some extent) workforce
transformation.
Website and online resources
The programme has currently developed the following online resources:
•
Dedicated genomics education programme website
http://www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/
•
•
•
•
•
Introducing Genomics video
•
Sample Collection and DNA Extraction (Part 1) online course (for use by NHS GMC
staff to ensure they extract and prepare samples correctly so they can be
sequenced)
Introduction to Genomics short online course
Introduction to Bioinformatics short online course
Rare Diseases video
Consent and Ethics (Part 1) online course (for use by NHS GMC staff to consent
patients to the 100,000 Genomes Project)
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Some figures, as at mid March:
•
8,917 people have visited the HEE genomics website since its launch on 1 August
2015, with 81% of our visitors coming from the UK
•
There have been 4,893 online views of the Introducing Genomics video since its
launch in August 2015
•
There have been 1,546 online views of the Rare Disease: A family's journey video
since its launch on 25 February 2015 in conjunction with rare diseases day
•
900 people have registered for the online courses, with 359 course completions –
218 Genomics; 141 Bioinformatics
•
Our Twitter account now has 2,696 followers (on average, this is increasing by c200
per month)
Further resources are being planned, and in addition HEE will facilitate a network with NHS
GMCs and universities to understand better the current level of education and training of
staff, and what additional education and training should be developed, and how it should be
best delivered.
MSc in Genomic Medicine
A tender process has recently been concluded to deliver a MSc in Genomic Medicine. There
are nine preferred providers:
•
•
•
•
•
Birmingham
Cambridge
Imperial
Manchester
Newcastle
•
•
•
•
Queen Mary’s
Sheffield
Southampton
St George’s
The MSc will be made available:
•
•
•
full-time over 1 year
•
modules can be taken in combination, culminating in the award of a PG Certificate or
Diploma
part-time over 2 years (there is current funding provision for 550 MSc places)
as individual CPD modules (there is current funding provision for a total of 300+ CPD
opportunities per quarter)
Contracts and commissioning arrangements are currently being discussed with the preferred
providers.
Higher Specialist Scientific Training
Recruitment to 28 additional HSST posts in molecular pathology and genetics was
undertaken in January, and 27 candidates were offered places – 16 in genetics; 11 in
molecular pathology – which commenced on 1 March.
The diagram on page 7 shows the location of NHS GMCs, MSc preferred provider
universities, and HSST appointments.
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Research opportunities
HEE will develop with partners, including Genomics England, opportunities for research
using the 100,000 Genomes Project data. These are not expected to start, at earliest, until
later this year – currently there is little data available for research work (this will increase
considerably over the coming months), and technical arrangements such as access to data
need to be made.
Metrics
The partner organisations are required to report metrics to DH on their contribution to the
100,000 Genomes Project. For HEE these are:
•
Education of NHS/Public Health workforce in genomic medicine – number of NHS
workforce enrolments in HEE funded MSc and HEE funded online resources
•
Expansion and training of scientific workforce – number of PHDs and Fellowships
awarded through HEE/GECIP
The real legacy of the HEE Genomics Education Programme – and the focus of the strategy
– should be a future workforce that is able to harness the potential, and meet the demands,
of the increasing application of genomics.
Proton Beam Therapy
In addition, in providing the very best care and treatment for patients with cancer, the
building of two proton beam therapy cancer treatment centres at University College London
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester has
been announced. The £250 million investment in the facilities will provide a highly-targeted
type of radiotherapy that can treat hard-to-reach cancers without causing damage to
surrounding tissue or other side effects. The centres are expected to open for patients in
2018, with building starting this summer. HEE is playing a key role in ensuring we both upskill the current workforce and provide a future workforce that can meet the needs of
patients requiring Proton Beam Therapy. HEE have worked with colleagues at the
Department of Health and NHSE to create an educational video on PBT, this was used by
the Prime Minister to announce the new facilities.
13 March 2015
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