South East GMSA

The NHS South East Genomic Medicine Service Alliance

The application of genomic technologies across end-to-end patient pathways has the potential to transform patient’s lives through quicker diagnosis and the delivery of personalised medicine and care plans which are better suited and tailored to treat the underlying cause. A national network of 7 NHS Genomic Medicine Service Alliances (GMSAs) will support the systematic embedding of genomics into routine clinical care and the rapid adoption of scientific advances through collaborative partnership working across disciplines and geographies.

The South East GMSA will build on the successful partnerships that have formed across our geography over the past few years through our NHS South London Genomic Medicine Centre (GMC) and more recently, the NHS Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH).

Our GMSA geography covers approximately 15.4% of the population of England and brings a range of opportunities for the region that will be driven through the Alliance Network, including our region’s Integrated Care Systems, Cancer Alliances and Primary Care Networks. The work of the South East GMSA will build on that of extensive existing local and regional clinical networks across a broad range of specialties and work with patient and public representatives.

National network of GMS regions (with key)
Map of GMSA regions

The GMSA will work in close collaboration with the GLH to ensure patients fully benefit from advances in genomics, bringing together a national test directory and equitable access to standardised testing pathways with exciting clinical opportunities afforded by new detailed understanding about people’s underlying genetic profiles.

Our aim

The South East GMSA will seek to improve patient outcomes through care pathway development and enabling timely and equitable access to genomic testing and genomically informed treatments across primary and secondary care in our geographic region. 

The GMSA will focus on reducing unwarranted variation and delivering the NHS Long Term Plan commitments to make demonstrable improvements to outcomes in the following areas for our patients and the populations we serve:

  • equitable access to standardised end-to-end pathways of care, including genomic testing, clinical genetics and counselling services
  • access to treatments and medicine optimisation driven by comprehensive genomic and diagnostic characterisation
  • access to clinical trials
  • active participation and contribution to genomic research to advance clinical care for patient and societal benefit.

Our key priorities

The regional GMSAs will focus on the following  priorities:

  1. Completion of the 100,000 Genomes Project
  2. Retaining and building patient and public trust in genomics
  3. Strengthening partnerships across the geography
  4. Using genomics to improve health and care productivity, quality and efficiency
  5. Supporting the multi-professional workforce to use genomics safely, effectively and efficiently
  6. Maximising opportunities to facilitate and participate in research and innovation
  7. Operating as a national network and representing the NHS GMS internationally

Our transformation projects

The South East GMSA is achieving its aims through a programme of national and regional transformation projects.

HEE Genomics Education Programme

Frameworks and resources for the national genomics transformation projects created in collaboration with Health Education England.
find out more

Our Alliance Partners

Meet the GMSA team

Sean Whittaker- Our Team

Sean Whittaker

Medical Director

Frances Elmslie

Clinical Director

Tootie Bueser

Director of Nursing & Midwifery

Lucy Galloway

Pharmacy Lead

Nisha Shaunak

Pharmacy Lead

Simone Gelinas

Senior Programme Manager

Karen Sleigh

Senior Programme Manager

Dominic Studart

Nursing Lead

Joanne Hargrave

Midwifery Lead

Nicola Husain

Education & Training Lead

Heidy Brandon

Education & Training Lead

Andrea Forman

Genetic Counselling Lead

David McKinnon- Our Team

David McKinnon

Digital and Informatics Lead

Mohammed Khan

Digital and Informatics Programme Manager

Max Whibley

Pathology Lead

Anju Kulkarni

Clinical Genetics Service Lead (GSTT)

Frances Elmslie

Clinical Genetics Service Lead (SGUH)

Senior Responsible Officers (SRO)

Vinodh Kumar

Pharmacy SRO

Avey Bhatia

Nursing & Midwifery SRO

Michael Simpson

Research & Innovation SRO

Transformation Project Clinical Leads

Tony Wierzbicki

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia
National Project

Adam Shaw

Lynch
National Project

Anna Brackenridge

Monogenic Diabetes
National Project

Ali Chakera

Monogenic Diabetes
National Project

Nirupa Murugaesu- Our Team

Nirupa Murugaesu

ctDNA
National Project

Frances Elmslie

Sudden Cardiac Death
National Project

Emma Matthews

Neurology
Regional Project

Anju Kulkarni

Quest Genomics
Regional Project

Ania Koziell

Renal
Regional Project

Katie Snape

FHQS
Regional Project

Programme Management Office

Jessica Gutmann – Transformation Project Manager

Adam Reekie – Transformation Project Manager

Anna Kim – Project Manager

Makeda Glaze – Project Manager

GMSA transformation projects

The South East GMSA is delivering a programme of national and regional transformation projects which are transforming patient care through genomics. These projects raise awareness of genomics and support healthcare professionals to ‘think genomics‘, enabling timely and equitable access to genomic testing and genomically informed treatments across  our geographic region.

National transformation projects

ctDNA: supporting early diagnosis of cancer for patients who cannot have a tumour biopsy or do not yet have a confirmed diagnosis

DPYD: standardising the equitable implementation of DPYD gene testing and optimising clinical effectiveness for patients with cancer

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH): increasing identification of FH in the community

Lynch syndrome: delivering a comprehensive service for the detection of Lynch syndrome

Monogenic Diabetes: improving the identification and treatment of monogenic diabetes

Nursing & Midwifery: delivering a systematic approach to integrating genomics into nursing and midwifery practice

Pathology: supporting rapid cancer genomic diagnostics through pathway improvement

Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD): supporting the BHF pilot through the delivery of a dedicated Inherited Cardiovascular Conditions (ICC) liaison for the coronial service for all patients with SCD

Regional transformation projects

Family History Questionnaire Service (FHQS): a digital tool to inform referrals to improve patient care in FH and cancer

Neurology: addressing unmet genetic diagnostic needs in 16-25 year olds with complex epilepsy and neuromuscular disease

QGenome – the Genomics Navigator: developing an app-based clinical decision aid tool to guide mainstream specialities in the use of genomics

Renal: integrating genomics into renal care pathways through raising awareness and upskilling healthcare professionals
With any Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) test ordered, a Record of Discussion (RoD) form will also need to be submitted. This document is to record the patient’s consent for genomic testing and their choice on taking part in research. Guidance on the patient choice conversation can be found here
 
This RoD form will be available for clinicians to download from this webpage. Once completed with the patient, it can be send to the lab with the corresponding test order form and sample.
Tests available to order will be listed in the National Genomic Test Directory. A test order form will soon be made available for clinicians on this webpage to download and complete. This form will include the address of the laboratory that the appropriate sample and completed form needs to be sent to.
 
Until the new Genomic Laboratory Service goes live, please continue to follow existing test order processes.
 
Later this year, the online test ordering tool for Whole Genome Sequencing will be integrated into the National Genomics Informatics System (NGIS) and clinicians will be able to search or filter to find a clinical indication, confirm eligibility criteria and start the test request process for their patient.