The accuracy of science in movies can be a contentious topic. For those “in the know”, suspending your disbelief (and…
The Evolution of the Genetic Counselling Profession
Tracking the development of the Genetic Counsellor role In 2020 the Wellcome Connecting Science Engagement and Society team explored the…
Global perspectives on health, research and trustworthiness
Trust is critical to virtually everything we do in life, wherever in the world we are. We trust that when…
An Important Era for Socialising the Genome
Genomics, Public Trust and Engagement “Genomics” – a scientific term previously considered most relevant to scientific research, is now a…
I:DNA – an immersive exploration into the view of people living with genetic conditions
This multi-sensory art installation moves online In 2019, the Imagining Futures research by Prof Felicity Boardman, a professor in medicine…
So Much More Than Just a Test, the introductory film to the Voices of Genetic Counsellors short documentary series, is an official selection for the 2020 Imagine Science Film Festival
Placing the role of Genetic Counsellors in the Spotlight We are proud to share that So Much More Than Just…
Wellcome Genome Campus Society and Ethics Research Lead on a UK Citizens Assembly.
Wellcome Genome Campus Society and Ethics lead of a UK citizens assembly for gene-editing
Future of Genomic Research at Risk Without Greater Public Trust in How Genetic Data is Shared, Survey Finds.
The largest ever survey on global public attitudes towards genomic research and data sharing suggests that work is needed to…
Genetic Counsellors: Walking on the genetics journey
Over the past three months the ‘Voice of Genetic Counsellors’ video series has enabled us to step into the shoes…
Genetic Counsellors: Enabling Patients to Fostering Resilience
Turning patient stories into hope and resilience One of the main reasons people seek a genetic test is to establish…
Genetic Counsellors: Helping Patients Cope with Bad Results
The art of caring in clinical practice For genetic counsellors it’s not simply enough to impart scientific knowledge, or to…
Music of Life Short-film Selected for Raw Science Film Festival 2020
The Music of Life: What is a Gene? short-film selected to appear in the 2020 Raw Science Film Festival (Los Angeles, California).
Telling the Story of DNA
Genomics. Sequencing. Tracking. These are the buzzwords within COVID-19 science at the moment – describing how we map the DNA construction of the virus, how it’s mutating and where different strains are appearing.
Genetic Counsellors – Communicating Complex Messages
Receiving a confirmed diagnosis of a genetic condition can have a ripple effect, potentially affecting multiple generations of a single family.
Genetic Counsellors: An Important Part of Multidisciplinary Clinical Healthcare Teams
Genomethics discusses how genetic counsellors can help their colleagues learn about genetics
Genetic Counsellors: A unique skill set
Genetic Counsellors are pivotal to the interpretation of complex clinical concepts; possessing specialist skills and expertise to communicate genetic information…
The duty of care: a genetic balancing act?
Genetic testing is becoming a standard part of UK healthcare, with plans to expand its use. But who does this information belong to, and who decides who it is shared with?
Genetic Counselling in Focus
The vital role of the Genetic Counsellor in their own words – Voices of Genetic Counsellors Video Series.
A collaborative project between Wellcome Genome Campus Society and Ethics Research and the Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors.
Rare Disease Film Festival 2020
What it is like to live with a rare disease? 99% of genetic conditions are classed as rare, meaning they affect fewer than 1 in 2,000 people. Currently, there are over 6,000 known rare diseases, and thanks to advances in genome sequencing new ones are being identified and described on a regular basis.
Addressing inclusion in genetic counselling
For patients receiving genetic counselling there is often a mixture of emotions and anxieties involved. The very purpose of this service is to help people make sense of who they are, what inherited risks they might face, or even come to terms with a difficult diagnosis.
Genomics and big data — who do we trust?
Genomic data is being produced in ever greater quantities, whether within our health services, in academic research projects, or by…
“Informed Consent” to edit embryos: what consent?
Richard Milne and Anna Middleton from the Society and Ethics Research group provide a commentary on informed consent and its…
New Public Dialogue Highlights Hopes and Concerns for Genomic Medicine in the UK
A major new report based on a public dialogue around genomic medicine was launched last week. A Public Dialogue on…
Genetopia – The compelling stories and tensions behind genetic testing
What springs to mind when thinking about genetic testing? You would expect the answer to be something about families, heredity,…
Genetic Disability, Experience and the Sorting Society
Are we heading towards a future where genetic conditions are ‘screened-out’? Who gets to decide which conditions are screened for?…
Developing a genomics workforce for the future
The Topol Review, led by cardiologist, geneticist, and digital medicine researcher Dr Eric Topol and facilitated by Health Education England,…
Human Embryo Editing: edging ever closer
“As scientific knowledge advances and societal views evolve, the clinical use of germline editing should be revisited on a regular…
Articulating the contract between science and people: DNA data sharing
A new deal on data: are you with us? For most of us it is hard to unpick the various…
Editing embryos – Could you? Would you? Should you? Views from Genetic Counsellors
Genetic counsellors sit on the front line of genomics – translating (literally) the science for people who are trying to…
Legal duty to share genetic information goes to trial
By Vicky Chico and Anna Middleton Following on from our previous blog on the legal duty to share genetic information,…
Legal duty to share genetic information? ABC v St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust
Guest blog by Dr Vicky Chico, Legal Consultant, Society and Ethics Research Group, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge Yesterday myself and…
Your Genome, Your Research Agenda
On 30th September 2016 we were part of a very exciting event to determine, from a patient perspective, what the…
DNA and Big Data: be part of the conversation
The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) and the Wellcome Genome Campus have launched a new project to explore…
Talking about genetics with children? Use Harry Potter
This guest blog comes from Jon Roberts again; doctoral student from Kings College London and Wellcome Genome Campus. See Jon’s…
Cinema Magic for Engagement with Genomics
This guest blogpost comes from Jon Roberts, genetic counsellor and PhD student at KCL and Wellcome Genome Campus. Jon is…
The ‘Making Of’ GeneTube Project
Here is a little film that gives an overview of what we did in the Socialising the Genome project. Julian…
Socialising the Genome – how do we start a conversation about genomics?
How easy is it to strike up a conversation about genomics? Geno-what? Does the average person on the street know…
Largest survey of public attitudes shows perceived value of genomic data
We made it! Finally, the main set of results from our survey (opposite) have been published. Below is the press…
“If you know it, I’d like to know it too” – involving participants in genomics research
This blog post is based on the talk I gave at the launch of the Nuffield Council of Bioethic’s report…
Lancet publishes Genomethics research
In 2010, when the Deciphering Developmental Disorders project began screening patient genomes, we began talking to scientists, clinicians and patient…
Genetic counsellors and genomic counselling
The genomic era is upon us. From the Government’s pledge to sequence 100,000 genomes to the launch of 23andMe, a…
Leading questions
“Why do we itch – what’s occurring in our bodies?” and “Do animals have belly buttons?” These are just a…
Opportunistic genomic screening: the voices that need to be heard
Genetic screening: the voices that need to be heard.
Survey talk – guest blog by Dr Jenny Cham
This past Friday on the Genome Campus, Dr Anna Middleton of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute gave an interesting seminar…
Attention The Times: Prince William’s DNA is not a toy
An ancestor of Prince William’s from the 19th century was half Indian, according to The Times. This claim is based…
Angelina Jolie tested for one gene, what about the other 20,000?
The world reacted with shock as Angelina Jolie, Hollywood actress, UN Ambassador and world renowned beauty announced in the New…
Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer comments on Genomethics
To date, 3000 people have completed our online survey exploring various ethical implications arising from the application of genome technology. …
‘No choice for you’ according to the ACMG
The American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) has recently published recommendations for reporting incidental findings (IFs) in clinical exome and…
Sexual abuse: Getting the Message Across
A 35 year old woman, let’s call her Sarah, is estranged from her parents. After 20 years of no contact,…
DNA Sequencing – Can You Handle the Truth?
Having your genes studied is cheap (about $99) and easy (just spit here). And according to 23andMe (one of the…