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Clinical Genetics and Pharmacogenomics

The Northwest has internationally recognised centres of excellence in clinical genetics and is the only UK region to host both a National Reference Laboratory and a Genetic Knowledge Park.

Academic and Healthcare Institutions:

CIGMR - Centre for Integrated Genomic Medical Research based at the University of Manchester, is a comprehensive facility for the analysis of complex diseases by combining epidemiological, statistical and genetic approaches. Concentrating on the analysis of inflammatory, infectious, autoimmune and neurocognitive phenotypes, it offers services such as advice on genetic study design, ethics, committee applications, bioinformatics, data analysis and comprehensive in-house laboratory services for clinicians and research scientists wishing to pursue genetic approaches to understanding complex traits.

The Central Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust houses both the Regional Molecular Genetics Laboratory and one of only two National Reference Laboratories in England.

The MRC Centre for Drug Safety Science at the University of Liverpool led by Professor Kevin Park encompasses the spectrum from molecular aspects of drug action to translational research on drug safety using utilising technologies such as microarrays, proteomics, transgenics and pharmacogenetics. This group is supported by BBSRC, CRUK, MRC, Wellcome Trust and UK Department of Health. Also within this group Professor Munir Pirmohamed was appointed to the NHS Chair in Pharmacogenetics which will complement a £10m Centre for Personalised Medicines being created by the University aided by a £2m grant from the Wolfson Foundation. Research will be carried out in collaboration with the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and other hospitals in the North West and will collect genetic information to build a detailed clinical picture of individual patients and their response to particular drugs.

The Northwest Genetic Knowledge Centre (NoWGEN) in Manchester. The centre aims to create a cohesive community of highly informed professionals that shares information, discoveries, expertise and experience in genetics. The focus of the centre is Applied Genetics to house multi-disciplinary research groups that will deliver cost-effective genetics services.

The UK Biobank in Manchester. This national project is the world's biggest resource for the study of the role of nature and nurture in health and disease. The facility holds samples from over half a million participants aged between 45 and 69 years. The samples are available for use by researchers around the world and UK Biobank represents a powerful resource for biomedical researchers.

Companies with interests in this field:
Qiagen, Manchester (formerly DxS) is a personalised medicine company providing molecular diagnostics to aid doctors and drug companies in selecting therapies for patients. Qiagen offers products, technology and services to the healthcare industry to enable the delivery of safe and effective medicines. Working predominantly in the field of cancer, Qiagen have a range of companion diagnostic and research kits that detect mutations in oncogenes associated with drug response.

The region also has a number of companies providing genetic testing services including Crucial Genetics and DNA Diagnostics.