In 2012, Genomics England launched a project to sequence 100,000 genomes from around 70,000 National Health Service (NHS) patients – and their families - with cancer or a rare disease, in order to demonstrate how best to kick-start a UK genomics industry and support more personalised treatments.
Today, the Department of Health company has announced it will work with contract research organization (CRO) Icon on the project using its data management capabilities to validate clinical data from the participating patients.
Icon’s CMO Professor Brendan Buckley said his firm was “proud that [its] genomics knowledge and capabilities in securely managing large clinical and real world datasets have been chosen by Genomics England for such an important and transformative project.”
He added the collaboration demonstrated the CRO’s flexibility in partnering with both industry and government organisations in “new and innovative ways to improve patient care by accelerating the development of targeted and personalised medicines that tackle complex diseases.”
Managing Director for the 100,000 Genomes Project, James Peach, cited Icon’s “expertise in data management” as being fundamental in driving scientific research and “accelerating the return of results for NHS patients.”