We are Genomics England and our vision is to create a world where everyone benefits from genomic healthcare. Join us every fortnight, where we cover everything from the latest in cutting-edge research to real-life stories from those affected by rare conditions and cancer. With thoughtful conversations, we take you behind the science. You can also tune in to our Genomics 101 explainer series which breaks down complex terms in under 10 minutes.
Episodes
Wednesday Mar 31, 2021
Lord Bethell: The importance of embracing disruption
Wednesday Mar 31, 2021
Wednesday Mar 31, 2021
"We have accept that things are going to come along in our field that are going to make us feel uncomfortable, and they're going to stretch us. And we shouldn't be frightened of that."
Using his experience from his days working at the Ministry of Sound, Lord Bethell is keen to mobilise impact in the genetics and genomics world as quickly, and as equitably, as possible.
In this episode, Chris and Lord Bethell talk about the vision of a perfect understanding of the human body and using that to drive genomic medicine, the challenges along the way, and what we can learn from the rapid scaling at incredible pace throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wednesday Mar 24, 2021
John James: We need commitment and we need leadership
Wednesday Mar 24, 2021
Wednesday Mar 24, 2021
"Here we have a condition that has been known medically for hundreds of years, people have received Nobel Prizes for their analysis and understanding of its genetic makeup. Given what is known about sickle cell, genomic research into treatments and cures should be amongst the low hanging fruit within the scientific development."
John James, CEO of the Sickle Cell Society and the first Black African-Caribbean Chief Executive in the NHS, believes that it is fundamental to acknowledge that inequalities exist before transformational change can happen across our health services as well as in research. Only then will we start closing the gaps in the differences in healthcare outcomes and treatments for all of the people our NHS serves.
This week, Chris and John tackle the challenges of reaching weary ethnic minority communities, the importance of role models, and the difficulties in translating exciting scientific advancements to healthcare professionals who are already under incredible pressure.
Wednesday Mar 17, 2021
Dr Natalie Banner: How to talk about data without talking about data
Wednesday Mar 17, 2021
Wednesday Mar 17, 2021
"Data is quite a technical topic. It's quite dry. One workshop participant said, 'Oh, you say the word data and I fall asleep.' Engagement needs to be about what matters to people, the benefits to people."
Dr Natalie Banner is an expert on the power of data, and uses her knowledge and experience to guide decision-makers and ultimately make health data a more accessible subject for all. After all, data saves lives.
In this episode, Chris and Natalie talk about the early, big challenges around genomic data like data privacy and meaningful consent; where the responsibility should lie in engaging people in the genomic conversation; and where we could be five years from now.
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
Dave McCormick: Embedding the patient voice
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
“This is about developing a balance between quantitative and qualitative perspective, it isn't just about the data - the data is important, of course it is - but it's also the lived patient experience. Both are key.”
In this week’s episode of The G Word, Chris Wigley is joined by Dave McCormick, who has been a member of the Genomics England Participant Panel since 2017 and became a participant in the 100,000 Genomes Project due to his rare sight condition. Dave is also an Advisor on the MSc in Genomic Sciences at The University of Manchester, and a Patient Representative in North West GLH Clinical Advisory Group.
In this episode, Dave and Chris discuss why is it so important for people studying to become bioinformaticians or clinical scientists to embed the patient voice, getting healthcare professionals and scientists to talk to people in lay language and DIGVIP (Digital Inclusion on Genomics with Visually-Impaired People), a webinar series launched to try to bring research and patients closer together.
Wednesday Mar 03, 2021
Professor Ting Wu: The beauty of the genome
Wednesday Mar 03, 2021
Wednesday Mar 03, 2021
"A person's experience can actually alter our genetic material and have it passed on. So what could some of those alterations be, that children can inherit, and for generations after that?"
Professor Ting Wu is a molecular biologist with a passion for genetics, space and education. Unravelling the mystery of genes could lead us to understanding what children inherit from their parents, why genetic diseases develop, and how we may be able to improve the outcomes for - and potentially reduce the likelihood of - these diseases.
And though it may sound like science fiction, what we learn about genetics could even help us in space travel - Ting tells Chris about her group investigating the effects of extreme environments on the human genome and how we can protect it against radiation damage.