NHS DNA Scheme....anyone read this?

[syd]

Just read this article on the BBC news website....do you think we could be on this scheme?

www.bbc.com/news/health-30558112

[john]

Hi Syd, I think I already am! I'll check with the nurses next week but I have given some bloods and signed an agreement to let my hospital health records be used.
How are you? Haven't heard from you for a while, guessing you're well into the infusion way of life now!
Happy Christmas.....John

[s162216]

Hi Syd, I know for definite that some people with PID are being selected for this (if I remember correctly Emma [irishgirl] said she had been selected to take part). From what I understand it all hinges on the medical staff putting individual patients forward to be considered to sequenced.

Whilst it is a great scheme and will be of benefit in the genomic understanding of many conditions, the downside that I see for especially those with CVID is that I doubt enough patients nationwide will be sequenced to enable sufficient answers to be found (as the sample size will be too small) because of CVID being such a genetically complex and diverse condition unlike simple single mutation conditions.

This will probably foster in the beginning of "personalised medicine" where genetic makeup is also considered when prescribing drugs as simple polymorphisms (essentially genetic diversity between people) can wildly change the characteristics of a drug (e.g such as why some people don't experience pain relief when using codeine as they have a polymorphism which slows it's breakdown into morphine in the body). As one of my lecturers at university put it, one day you'll go to your doctor and they'll select the best drug based on your individual genome. Whilst that is quite a way off, at least NHS England is recognising it's future role and importance.

Sam.

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