Genetics laboratories get extra investment
Laboratories that carry out genetic testing have been given £18m to spend on upgrading equipment and to help them meet the Government target to make urgent test results available within three days by 2006.
The investment, according to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, means
the UK is a step nearer being able to offer pharmacogenetic testing in
the future.
Chief scientist at the Society, Tony Moffat, said: ”This is great
news. A lot of people want to know whether they are predisposed to certain
diseases such as Huntingdon’s disease and the worst thing you can
do is have to wait ages for results. The fact that the Government is
prepared to invest in the laboratories which do genetic testing is great
because it paves the way for pharmacogenetic testing. For once the Government
is getting ahead of the game.”
The investment in laboratories carrying out genetic testing comes just
two weeks after the Government revealed details of £4m of research
into pharmacogenetics to help discover whether a person’s genetic
make up means they will react badly to drugs (PJ, 26 June, p792).
Both initiatives follow publication last year of the genetics
White Paper, “Our inheritance, our future”, which set out a £50m strategy to
realise the potential of genetics in the NHS. |
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Pharmaceutical Journal
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