Queen Mary University of London awarded £24m from MRC to support the 100,000 Genomes Project

QMUL's Professor Mark Caulfield, Chief Scientist for Genomics England

The award to QMUL's Professor Mark Caulfield will establish a shared, secure, high performance data and computer infrastructure, as a platform for innovative clinical genomics research. It will maximize the translational research potential of the 100,000 Genomes Programme and enhance existing MRC research infrastructure.

Professor Mark Caulfield, who led the bid from Queen Mary University of London and is also the Chief Scientist for Genomics England, comments: “This Data Centre offers a tremendous opportunity for the UK to discover new biological insights into rare diseases, cancer and infection that could transform the care of patients."

Professor Richard Trembath, Vice-Principal for Health, Queen Mary University of London, comments: "We wholeheartedly welcome today's announcement of further investment in the Government's 100,000 Genomes Project, putting the UK at the centre of genetics research and leading the way on transforming the application of genetics in UK healthcare. Queen Mary University of London's £24m award from the MRC will enable Genomics England to establish a shared, secure, high-performance data and computer infrastructure, as a platform for this landmark research project."

Since the 100,000 Genomes Project was first launched, a close working relationship has been built between QMUL and Genomics England. Professor Mark Caulfield, an international leader in the genetics of cardiovascular disease, was named Chief Scientist for Genomics England in July 2013 and the organisation has established offices within QMUL's medical school campus earlier this year. The award establishes a partnership between QMUL and the universities Oxford, Cambridge, Newcastle, University College London, Kings College London, the European Bioinformatics Institute, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and the University of Dundee.