UKHSA publishes five-year Pathogen Genomics Strategy

Genomics will be integrated 'into every aspect of infectious disease control', according to a five-year strategy unveiled by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Sequencing of pathogen genomics will be central to the Pathogen Genomics Strategy, and it is hoped it will support the UK's efforts to continue to contribute to international genomics surveillance efforts. One of the aims outlined in the Strategy is for a 'nationally-coordinated high throughput pathogen genomics sequencing and analysis service' and a 'genomics workforce transformation'. It is not made clear whether additional funding will be made available for this work, though does promise that services developed will be 'good value for money'.

'Pathogen genomics is an essential component of the world's ability to respond quickly to infectious disease threats, whether by increasing the speed at which we can identify emerging pathogens or control outbreaks, or by improving our understanding of what treatments or vaccines might be effective,' said Dr Meera Chand, deputy director for emerging infections and clinical lead for the Genomics Programme at UKHSA.

Pathogens are microorganisms that cause disease, while genomics is the study of genetic material that makes up living organisms. By analysing genomics of pathogens, scientists can monitor the occurrence of any mutations or variants that can contribute to the spread of disease.

'Antimicrobial resistance, emerging infections and infections that can be prevented with vaccines are priorities for the Strategy,' Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor of the UKSHA wrote in the foreword.

The COVID-19 pandemic response demonstrated that genomics can be combined into public health systems, aiding informed decision-making. The UK submitted over three million SARS-CoV-2 sequences over the course of the pandemic, contributing to 25 percent of the global total. Since then, genomics has been vital for identifying foodborne outbreaks of salmonella and analysing the risk from emerging infections such as monkeypox. It has also been used to determine the treatment for diseases like tuberculosis. 

Last year the UKSHA unveiled a ten-year plan pledging to put participation in global genomic surveillance at the forefront of health security (see BioNews 1191). In 2022 the UK Government, Welsh and Scottish Governments, and Northern Ireland Assembly announced a series of shared commitments to integrate genomics into healthcare (see BioNews 1138).