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Advances in technology and clinical infrastructure have made whole genome sequencing (WGS) increasingly accessible to both patients and healthcare professionals. With the introduction of the NHS Genomic Test Directory, WGS can now be requested directly from secondary care, bypassing the need for Clinical Genetics input and improving equity of access.

While the benefits of WGS are well publicised, its practical and ethical challenges often receive less attention. As genomic data is increasingly used to predict disease and manage NHS demand, the uncertain nature of these predictions can create unexpected complexities for clinicians.

Healthcare professionals may find themselves interpreting primary findings or weighing in on incidental results or tasks that can feel unfamiliar and carry significant implications.

In this half-day meeting, we will explore these issues through real clinical cases. Drawing on their experience in genomic medicine, our expert speakers will equip clinicians with the tools to confidently navigate the practical and ethical dimensions of WGS in everyday practice.

By attending this meeting, you will:

• Build your understanding of what whole genome sequencing (WGS) is and when to consider ordering it.
• Have an appreciation of the decision-making process around reporting the primary and incidental findings of whole genome sequencing.
• 51¶ÌÊÓƵ about what needs to be considered when managing the primary and incidental findings of whole genome sequencing.Ìý

This meeting will equip healthcare professionals who order whole genome sequencing with practical knowledge of the testing process, including how to request tests and what happens in the lab. It will cover the technical and ethical strengths and limitations of WGS, illustrate reporting challenges through clinical cases, and address managing unexpected findings, helping clinicians confidently handle complex genomic results in practice.

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