Nowgen, A Center for Genetics in Healthcare.

Abstract

It is now widely agreed that genetics is set to play a major role in healthcare; 'personalized' medicine, new approaches for treating cancer, and stem cell therapies are typical of the exciting areas of development, whilst large-scale epidemiological studies are uncovering genetic factors in pathways involved in complex disease. Nowgen, A Center for Genetics in Healthcare is a publicly funded organization examining the wider impact of genetics and genomics on the delivery of 21st century medicine. We recognize that the adoption of new technologies and treatments will be shaped by many factors, including public and patient beliefs and attitudes, the knowledge of professionals, and wider business approaches to these innovations. Our role is also to consider these developments within the UK National Health Service. We place ourselves at the center of the current discourse between these groups, setting out to perform applied research, inform and canvass opinion, disseminate knowledge, monitor developments and inform policy relating to the future of genetic medicine.