Genetic Medicine labs

The Biomedical Research Centre has invested extensively in embedding cutting-edge facilities and equipment within the hospital setting to speed up the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical practice.

Our Genetic Medicine labs make up one of the largest and most comprehensive genetics units in Europe. Genetic Medicine integrates a multidisciplinary clinical and laboratory genetics service which serves a population of over 5 million people.

The genetics laboratories include long-established sections for cytogenetics, molecular diagnostics and biochemical genetics. The molecular lab hosts one of two Department of Health funded National Genetics Reference Laboratories, which has an active research programme, particularly in bioinformatics. The lab also hosts the UK and European coordinating centre for quality assurance in molecular diagnostics.

Within the genetics laboratories, Biomedical Research Centre innovation teams, made up of university and NHS scientists, develop and test diagnostic strategies and make sure that these are rapidly put into clinical service.

During 2009 the Biomedical Research Centre purchased microarray technologies and next generation sequencing technologies (ABI SOLID) that have the ability to sequence large amounts of DNA in a single run. This means that the identification of genetic variations responsible for diseases, and research into the role those genes play in disease mechanisms, will ultimately be realised more effectively.

High throughput DNA-based technologies will support the analysis of common genetic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and breast cancer. Our focus is upon the use of these technologies to improve service provision within the NHS.