Genomics
Published on: 12th July 2017 | Updated on: 13th August 2026
Genomics is becoming an increasingly important part of NHS care.
It is already used to help diagnose some rare conditions, guide cancer treatment decisions and support the use of certain medicines. In the future, genomic information may help healthcare professionals tailor prevention, diagnosis and treatment more precisely to individual patients.
For pharmacy teams, one of the most relevant areas is pharmacogenomics. This is the use of genomic information to help understand how an individual may respond to a medicine. Over time, this could support safer prescribing, improved medicines optimisation and fewer adverse drug reactions.
The NHS continues to expand its use of genomic medicine as part of wider plans to deliver more personalised, preventative and digitally enabled healthcare. NHS plans and its genomic service also highlight genomics as a key technology for the future of healthcare delivery.
Future development
Genomics could increasingly support:
- Personalised medicines optimisation;
- Safer prescribing and dispensing decisions;
- Reduced risk of adverse drug reactions;
- Earlier diagnosis and treatment of some conditions;
- Improved patient outcomes through more targeted treatment; and
- Greater integration of genomic information within digital health records.
As the use of genomics grows across the NHS, pharmacy professionals are likely to play a greater role in supporting patients to understand and use genomics-informed care. The NHS Genomics team has identified the pharmacy workforce as a part of embedding genomic medicine into routine healthcare.
NHS genomic medicine developments
NHS Genomic Medicine Service
The NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) was established to help embed genomic testing and genomic medicine into routine NHS care.
The service aims to:
- Provide equitable access to genomic testing across England;
- Support earlier diagnosis of rare and inherited conditions;
- Expand the use of genomic testing in cancer care;
- Improve understanding of how patients respond to medicines; and
- Enable more personalised approaches to prevention and treatment.
The NHS Genomic Medicine Service operates through a national genomic testing network and the National Genomic Test Directory, which sets out which genomic tests are available within the NHS.
Pharmacogenomics
Pharmacogenomics explores how a person’s genetic makeup may influence their response to medicines.
Potential future benefits include:
- Selecting medicines that are more likely to be effective;
- Supporting dose optimisation;
- Reducing adverse drug reactions; and
- Improving medicines safety and outcomes.
NHS organisations are already exploring how pharmacogenomics can support medicines optimisation and how testing may be incorporated into routine care pathways.
Genomics and the NHS 10-Year Health Plan
The Government’s Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England identifies genomics as one of the NHS’s major future technology priorities.
The plan includes ambitions to:
- Expand the use of genomics within preventative healthcare;
- Improve identification of disease risk;
- Increase personalised treatment approaches;
- Develop genomics-informed population health services; and
- Expand the use of pharmacogenomics within NHS care pathways.
These developments could increase the relevance of genomic information for medicines optimisation and pharmacy practice over the coming years.
Resources for pharmacy teams
NHS England
- NHS Genomic Medicine Service online hub;
- National Genomic Test Directory;
- Pharmacy genomics workforce, education and training strategic framework.
Genomics Education Programme
The NHS Genomics Education Programme provides a wide range of educational resources, guidance and learning opportunities for healthcare professionals.
Useful resources there include:
- Genomics in Pharmacy;
- Genetic conditions factsheets;
- Genomics learning resources; and
- Pharmacogenomics education.
Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE)
CPPE provides learning resources specifically designed for pharmacy professionals, including:
Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm)
- Pharmacogenomic resource to support the competency framework for all prescribers
- Supporting resources
Position statements
Studies and articles
Community pharmacy and pharmacogenomics
- Co-designing a possible future community pharmacy pharmacogenomics testing service in the UK (BMC Health Services Research);
- Using pharmacogenomic information in clinical practice (Professional Record Standards Body)
Frequently asked questions
- What is genomics?
A. Genomics is the study of a person’s genetic information and how it influences health, disease and response to treatment. - What is pharmacogenomics?
A. Pharmacogenomics examines how genetic differences may affect a person’s response to medicines. This may help support more personalised prescribing and medicines optimisation in the future. - Could genomic information be used routinely in prescribing in future?
A. NHS organisations are already exploring broader use of pharmacogenomics and personalised medicine. The NHS 10-Year Health Plan highlights genomics as a key part of future healthcare delivery.
Further information
- Co-designing a possible future community pharmacy pharmacogenomics testing service in the UK (BMC Health Services Research)
- Using pharmacogenomic information in clinical practice (PRSB)
For more information on this topic please email it@cpe.org.uk
