A groundbreaking ultra-rapid method of genetically diagnosing brain tumours, developed by researchers at the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, is set to benefit patients for the first time, thanks to plans to roll out the innovation at a number of NHS sites across the UK.
The pioneering approach, which can cut the time it takes to classify tumours from 26 days to as little as two hours, is being piloted as part of a two-year pilot programme funded by the NHS Genomics Unit.
The £2.1 million initiative, Equitable Access to Rapid Genomic Diagnosis in Brain Tumours: A National Genomic Network of Excellence, aims to make cutting-edge genomic diagnosis more accessible for patients and brings together leading genomic medicine services, universities and NHS organisations from across England to explore how the technology can be embedded into routine clinical care.
The University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust will provide the scientific leadership for the network, building on their internationally recognised research published in Neuro-Oncology last year.
Brain tumours affect more than 12,000 people in the UK each year. Determining the exact type of tumour requires complex genetic testing, which is often sent to specialist laboratories and can take several weeks to complete. These delays can leave patients and their families facing an anxious wait for answers and may postpone important treatment decisions.
The Nottingham-developed technology addresses this challenge by dramatically accelerating the testing process.
Professor Matt Loose, from the University of Nottingham's School of Life Sciences and scientific lead for the project, developed a method that uses Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology to rapidly target and analyse specific regions of DNA. Combined with ROBIN, a software platform that enables comprehensive tumour classification, the approach provides clinicians with vital genetic information far more quickly than current methods.
This new method allows us to focus on the specific regions of DNA needed to answer important clinical questions, such as what type of tumour a patient has and how it could be treated. By rapidly analysing the most relevant genetic information, we can generate comprehensive tumour classifications in a fraction of the time currently required. "The goal of this new network is to ensure that this scientific research can be translated into clinical practice, and we couldn't be more excited about this roll-out."
In the first instance, the technology will be available through a network of NHS centres across England, including the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, helping to ensure more patients can benefit from faster, more precise diagnoses.
Stuart Smith, Consultant Neurosurgeon at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham, said: "I am very proud to have been part of this exceptional team creating this rapid genomic testing which will save valuable waiting time for patients who potentially are being told they don't have time on their side.
"The ability to have detailed information about the tumour at the point when decisions are being made in the operating theatre is game-changing. In some cases that can help us judge how far we should safely go while protecting healthy brain tissue.
"This gives us a glimpse of how brain tumour surgery could change in the future - with genomic information available during the operation itself, helping us make more informed decisions for each individual patient."
The pilot programme will evaluate how successfully the test can be delivered in routine NHS settings, with the long-term ambition of expanding it to neuropathology centres across England. If successful, the innovation could improve care for thousands of brain tumour patients each year by reducing waiting times for diagnosis and enabling earlier treatment decisions.
The award marks a significant milestone in translating world-leading research from the University of Nottingham into real-world clinical impact, reinforcing the university's position at the forefront of genomic medicine and cancer diagnostics.
The project is being delivered through the Central and South Genomic Medicine Service, hosted by Birmingham Women's and Children NHS Foundation Trust, and the East Genomic Medicine Service, hosted by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The clinical leadership for the Network of Excellence comes from the University of Birmingham and University Hospitals Birmingham, with scientific leadership from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals Trust. Teams across these establishments, as well as the South East and North Thames Genomic Medicine Services, have all had a significant role in shaping the Network of Excellence.
Testing will be available at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Guys and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust.
