Nurses to be trained as ‘genomics champions’ under 10 year plan

Nurses across England will be trained as ‘genomics champions’ to help patients get faster diagnoses and access treatment closer to home, as the part of the government’s 10 year health plan.

The government is creating a genomic population health service, building on the existing NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS), to enhance the identification, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as cancer, heart diseases, and rare genetic disorders. 

Specially trained nurses, along with other NHS staff, will identify patients suitable for genomic testing, supporting them to access genomic counselling if needed.

Professor Dame Sue Hill, chief scientific officer for England and the senior responsible officer for genomics in the NHS, said: “The establishment of a genomics population health service is an exciting and important development which builds on our world-leading NHS GMS. 

“It will enable more people to access genomic testing, not only for risk prediction and prevention, but also to help tackle the unmet needs of patients with undiagnosed conditions.”

Under the plans, nurses will help guide patients and family members through genetic testing that can identify the inherited causes of conditions that can go undetected for years, including kidney and neurological conditions.

Duncan Burton, chief nursing officer for England, said: “Nurses are at the heart of our NHS, and these advances will help ensure patients and communities benefit from nursing leadership in genomic medicine and research-led improvements.

“Our nursing workforce already includes well-established leaders in genomics and research and this represents an opportunity to strengthen and enhance the excellent work of our profession in these fields, recognising their expertise in healthcare innovation.”

Genomics is being used at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust by Dr Teofila Bueser, director of nursing and midwifery for the NHS South East Genomic Medicine Service Alliance and a researcher funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), to facilitate genetic testing to spot inherited heart problems in her patients.

Bueser said: “Researching genomics has boosted my nursing career and given me the opportunity to tackle genetic heart conditions to help the thousands of people who suffer from them.

“I hope more nurses and midwives take up the opportunities for education, research and clinical academic careers in the field of genomics.”

In 2024/25, more than £10 million was invested through NIHR to support nurses to develop their research and leadership skills and build their research careers through undergraduate and postgraduate internships, funded research masters programmes through the INSIGHT programme, and the Senior Clinical and Practitioner Research Award. 

Professor Lucy Chappell, chief scientific adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care and chief executive officer at the NIHR, said: “In recent years, the NIHR has significantly increased research opportunities to enable more health and care professionals, including nurses, to build research into their careers.

“Through the 10 year health plan, we have committed to go further, supporting nurses from all specialisms and in all settings to become research active, utilising their expertise to improve patient outcomes through research.”