A decade of discovery on debilitating diseases
It started with a small sample of spit from a volunteer in east London. A decade later it has become a unique genetic database improving health across the world.
Over ten years, the Genes & Health research programme, led by Barts Health academic clinicians, has developed new drugs, ensured existing medicines are better used, and changed clinical practice.
It is pioneering the science of precision medicine and has so far spawned more than 50 published research studies – with a dozen more in preparation.
Over 250 researchers are currently studying more than 3 million life-years’ worth of NHS health data, anonymised and securely stored alongside genetic information from people with Pakistani or Bangladeshi heritage taking part in the study.
Before Genes & Health was founded, genetic research was overwhelmingly focused on (white) European ancestry groups. Yet 29% of people living in east London are of Pakistani or Bangladeshi heritage.
By building trust and local partnerships, Genes & Health recruited over 72,000 British Bangladeshi and Pakistani volunteers so far – one in eight of the eligible population. This resulted in important advances in our knowledge about diseases that affect these communities.
For example, Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is more common in South Asians. Genes & Health proved that Pakistani and Bangladeshi people are genetically disposed to insulin deficiency and abnormal fat distribution.
Men are more likely to develop T2D, and in up to a fifth of cases this is because they have inherited identical genes from a common ancestor of both parents.
The findings confirm the experience of our clinicians who see their patients develop diabetes earlier, suffer complications faster, and respond less well to medication.
Pakistani and Bangladeshi men also have higher rates of heart disease. Genes & Health showed that 60% of volunteers carried genetic variation preventing them from processing a drug recommended to prevent blood clots after a heart attack.
As a result, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) amended its clinical guidelines last year.
Prof Sarah Finer, consultant diabetologist and Genes & Health co-lead, said “We study every clinical code, every blood test result, and every clinical observation entered by Barts Health staff to build a picture of the health of our volunteers.
"When analysed with genetic information from a single saliva sample, we make breakthrough discoveries that will improve the health of future generations of British Bangladeshis and Pakistanis and reduce inequalities in disease outcomes."
Professor David van Heel, consultant gastroenterologist and co-lead, said: "We are grateful to Barts Health colleagues for all their efforts in supporting Genes & Health and look forward to the next 10 years of our study."
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