Bristol nurses win national award for genomics education program
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust nurses are part of a team that has won a prestigious national higher education award.
The Generation Genome Education Team, a collaborative project led by the University of the West of England, Bristol, and supported by UHBW has received a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence for their work developing and delivering a postgraduate training course in genomics and counselling skills.
The award was presented by charity AdvanceHE at a ceremony held in Edinburgh. The team, made up of experts from UWE, NHS England, NHS Genomic Medicine Service, Macmillan Cancer Support and the British Heart Foundation, were recognised for their innovative approach to educating healthcare professionals in genomics.
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Tracie Miles, the Associate Director of Nursing and Midwifery for NHS South West Genomic Medicine Service Alliance and Siobhan John, Nurse and Genomic Practitioner are both based at UHBW, and are members of the course faculty.
The teaching programme was developed in the South West and is taught nationally. The Generation Study, which first began recruitment at St. Michael’s Hospital in March 2024, is a new part of the course this year both Tracie and Siobhan share their experiences on.
Genetic Counsellors from UHBW contribute an essential part of the teaching on the course, sharing their skillset and knowledge with nurses and midwives.
Tracie said: “UHBW and SWGMS are proud to be part of this exciting initiative. Congratulations to everyone involved on achieving the prestigious CATE Award, this recognition also strengthens the impact of the ongoing work of nurses and midwives across the cancer, rare disease and midwifery landscape.
Maria Kane, Joint Chief Executive Officer of North Bristol NHS Trust, and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, and the South West representative for the NHS Genomics Board, said: “I’m delighted that Bristol genomics practitioners’ expertise and contributions are being recognised for the key role they are playing in the national education of genomic medicine.
“I’m proud that our dedicated, highly skilled and passionate practitioners in the South West are passing on their expertise to the next generation of professionals. Congratulations to Tracie, Siobhan and team – I’m pleased that your excellence has been rewarded."
Aniko Varadi, Professor of Biomedical Research and Team Lead for the Generation Genome Education team said:
“We are delighted to have our collaborative work recognised by AdvanceHE. Our Generation Genome Education Team worked across several organisations to develop a postgraduate programme tailored for healthcare professionals new to genomics.”
“I am very proud of our team, and even more so of our students. Their engagement has led to the creation of new nurse-led genomics services, which are now delivering valuable care to patients and their families across England. We could not have achieved this without their dedication and support.”
The NHS South West Genomic Medicine Service (SWGMS) works in partnership with key organisations to make sure healthcare professionals have access to cutting-edge genomic education and development opportunities, which in turn leads to more people benefiting from the latest advances in genetic research.
The SWGMS supports world-leading and award-winning translational genomic services for patients and families affected by rare genetic conditions and cancer.
Genomics is a rapidly evolving field that is transforming patient care through improved screening and diagnostic services, care pathways, and personalised treatments. This award highlights the profound impact of integrating genomic medicine into everyday healthcare, ultimately benefiting patients and their families.