Centre for Genomic & Experimental Medicine
Centre for Genomic & Experimental Medicine

£6m investment in genomic medicine

People in Scotland with cancer and genetic diseases are to have their DNA mapped to better understand, diagnose and treat their conditions: March 2016

IGMM laboratory

People in Scotland with cancer and genetic diseases are to have their DNA mapped to better understand, diagnose and treat their conditions.

Scotland’s Chief Scientist Office has awarded £4m to The Scottish Genomes Partnership, with an additional £2m from the UK’s Medical Research Council. Led by the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, the Scottish Genome Partnership is Co-Chaired by Tim Aitman, Professor of Molecular Pathology and Genetics, and Director of CGEM and Professor Andrew Biankin, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow.

The funding will allow scientists to decode and analyse the entire genetic make-up of more than 3000 people in Scotland. Linking this genetic data with clinical information will enable more precise molecular diagnoses for patients in the Scottish NHS, leading to more personalised treatment and selection of drug therapies. It will also bring new understanding of the causes of both rare and common diseases, opening the door to the development of new treatments.

An additional £3.5 million has been made available by Scottish Enterprise to support industry-led projects in the field of genomic medicine that will stimulate business opportunities.

Further details can be found on the University of Edinburgh news web pages, and the full press release is available from The Scottish Government website.

More information on the Genomic Medicine Industrial Catalyst Fund can be found on the Scottish Enterprise website.