Elizabeth Ormondroyd

Genetics and genomics have advanced rapidly in recent years. My research focuses on understanding the impacts of these developments on patients, their families and society. 

Secondary findings

A major research focus is on 'secondary' or 'additional' findings in people who have undergone genome sequencing. At present, genome sequencing in the NHS is performed to look for genetic causes of existing disease, when there is evidence that the disease may have a genetic cause. However it is technically possible to look for other variants in the genome which may increase risk of developing other diseases. The diseases in question often don't have symptoms for a long time, so people may not know they are at risk.

Looking for these variants in individual genomes might help to detect disease, through surveillance or medical management. We know that the majority of patients and the public would like this information. But at present, when genomic variants are found in this way, we don't understand what the risk is, or how best to manage it. 

The 100,000 Genomics Project recruited people with a rare disease, and some healthy relatives, through the NHS. Adult participants were offered return of additional findings in a small number of genes. We have funding from the Wellcome ISSF to do a study of participants receiving additional findings, in the Oxford, West Midlands and Southampton areas.

Policy work: genomic health data generation 

Genomic health data is now generated in several contexts: clinical/research hybrid models (such as the 100,000 Genomes Project), research initiatives and the direct-to consumer market as well as the new NHS Genomic Medicine Service. We have  worked with policy makers - the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology and Health Education England Genomics Education Programme - to understand how these models intersect, and the clinical, ethical, legal, policy and social issues arising from this intersection. This work was funded by grants from University of Oxford policy engagement schemes, and described in this blog: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/science-blog/how-useful-personal-genetic-health-information.

ORCID

0000-0002-9116-4064