Genomics England, with the consent of participants and the support of the public, is creating a lasting legacy for patients, the NHS and the UK economy, through the sequencing of 100,000 genomes.

Genomics England was set up to deliver the 100,000 Genomes Project.

This flagship project will sequence 100,000 whole genomes from NHS patients with rare diseases, and their families, as well as patients with common cancers.

The 100,000 Genomes Project is mainly funded by the National Institute for Health Research and NHS England. The Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK and the Medical Research Council have also generously funded research and infrastructure in the programme.

The Government also announced £250 million over the current spending review period at the Autumn Statement in 2015 for the introduction of whole genome sequencing in the NHS, which included funding for Genomics England.

In October 2018, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the expansion of the 100,000 Genomes Project to see 1 million whole genomes sequenced by the NHS and UK Biobank in five years and an ambitious vision for genomic medicine in the NHS – with plans to sequence 5 million genomes over the next five years. Read more here.