Genomics Clinical Academic Group

We hold cross-institutional mini-symposiums to raise awareness of the research already happening at City St George’s, which covers a wide range of topics with researchers from a range of different research sections in the City St George's Institutes.

The Genomics CAG has links with many departments at City St George's, particularly the Neuroscience and Cell Biology Research Institute and the Cardiovascular and Genomics Research Institute where researchers are studying various themes such as cardiovascular and neurosciences with many researchers linking to our genetics and genomics research groups.

We have an excellent portfolio of education and training opportunities designed to address a range of topics and levels of experience.

The Genomic Medicine programme is a suite of modules designed to upskill and educate in the application of genomics across healthcare.  It is possible to take individual modules for continuing professional development (CPD) purposes or complete a full academic award (PGCert, PGDip, MSc).   Our flagship blended-learning programme is comprised of 13 modules:

• Fundamentals of human genetics and genomics
• Omics techniques and technologies
• Bioinformatics, quality assurance and data interpretation
• Advanced bioinformatics
• Genomics of common and rare inherited disease
• Application of genomics in infectious disease
• Molecular pathology of cancer and application in diagnosis, screening and treatment
• Pharmacogenomics and stratified healthcare
• Genomics of neurological disorders
• Genomics of cardiovascular disorders
• Ethical, legal and social issues in applied genomics
• Introduction to counselling skills in genomics
• Fetal genomics

Each module is delivered in a block of 5 days of primarily face-to-face learning either at the Tooting Campus of City St George's or at our partners King's College London.  NHS staff may benefit from full-fee funding from NHS England.

New for 2025 is our fully online PgCert Genomic Medicine which is comprised of three core modules (Fundamentals of human genetics and genomics; Genomics of common and rare inherited disease; and Variant interpretation) alongside a fourth module chosen from either Genomics of neurological disorders or Genomics of cardiovascular disorders.  Each module will run across a 10-week period with students able to complete learning when it suits them best.  It is also possible to complete individual modules.

The G CAG has also been involved in developing a range of shorter courses most of which are fully online. We have a set of cutting-edge massive online open courses (MOOCs) available through the Future Learn platform, all of which can be accessed free of charge.  These MOOCs are:

• The Genomics Era: the Future of Genetics in Medicine
• Genetic Inheritance for the Pregnancy Pathway: A Practical Guide for Clinicians
• Genomic Technologies in Clinical Diagnostics: Molecular Techniques
• Genomic Technologies in Clinical Diagnostics: Next Generation Sequencing
• Interpreting Genomic Variation: Inherited Cancer Susceptibility.

These can be completed across two to five weeks in your own time, being fully self-directed.

There are also two short courses led by expert members of the G-CAG and including highly interactive sessions.  The first is aimed at Oncologists and the second at a more general audience of clinical and healthcare professionals:

• Practical Cancer Genomics for Oncologists
• Practical Genomics and Genetic Testing for the Non-Geneticist.

Watch this space as we look to develop more education and training for those involved and interested in genomics!

The Clinical Genetics service covers a population of 4 million in South West London, Surrey and West Sussex. A multidisciplinary team of doctors, genetic counsellors, specialist nurses and clinical scientists provide support to children and adults affected by or at risk of genetic disorders. The department is a lead training centre for specialist registrars, genetic counsellors, and clinical scientists.

Across St George’s Hospital several highly specialised disease specific genetic services have been established including:

• Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Clinic
• Primary Lymphoedema Service
• Huntington’s Disease MDT Clinic
• Inherited Cardiovascular Conditions Service
• Paroxysmal Movement Disorders
• Neurogenetics Nurse Led Service.

St George’s clinical teams are active members of seven Rare Disease Collaborative Networks. We work closely with the South East Genomic Medicine Service Alliance for which Dr Frances Elmslie is Clinical Director.

Metagenomics in Action

Metagenomics is a rapidly expanding area as a diagnostic tool for infections. It bypasses the need to grow individual microbes in a lab by analysing the genetic material from all microbes in a human sample, including bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Metagenomics is already being used as a diagnostic tool for respiratory patients, as well as those with brain or central nervous system infections.  What started as a pilot at Guy’s and St Thomas’ is now being rolled out to 30 sites across the NHS, including St George’s.

Join us on October 16th, for a unique opportunity to meet with world leading metagenomic experts including

• Professor Jonathan Edgeworth, Director at the Centre for Clinical Infection & Diagnostic Research, St Thomas’ Hospital
• Professor Judy Breuer, Professor of Virology, UCL & Clinical Lead for Virology, GOSH
• Anna Aryee, Consultant in Infectious Diseases & Microbiology at UK Health Security Agency and Barts Health NHS Trust.

Hear how they are already using this cutting edge technology in the NHS to benefit patients and the important role this will have for biosecurity.

This is event is open to everyone so do share with colleagues.

📅 Date: 16 October 2025
🕐 Time: 12:00 – 14:00
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/41yERm3

2025 dates

These meetings take place on Mondays from 12:00 to 13:00 in Lecture Theatre A, B or C and online.