King's College London

The health of individuals is determined by their own genetic makeup combined with their lifestyles and environment. Genomics is the study of the body’s genes, their functions and their influence on the growth, development and working of the body. Analysing information about our genes and genome allows clinicians to determine an individual’s risk of developing disease, their response to infection (eg COVID), cancer diagnosis and treatment strategies, manage cardiovascular disease and personalise their healthcare.

The NHS intends to be the world-leading healthcare system in the use of cutting-edge genomic technologies to predict and diagnose inherited and acquired disease, and to personalise treatments and interventions. This programme provides you with the opportunity to discover how genetics and genomics are poised to revolutionise medical practice as healthcare moves towards delivering personalised medicine.

Genetics is unique in cutting across all disciplines as a contributory factor in the study of all disease states. The NHS is investing huge resources to embed genomics within healthcare and the application of genome-based diagnostic methods and development of future genetic-based therapeutic options.

The aims of the iBSc in Healthcare Genetics and Genomics are aligned with those of the Health Education England Genomics Education Programme (see www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/). It will prepare medical school graduates to understand, and take full advantage of, new genetic and genomic diagnostic and treatment options, which are being developed by the NHS as a new core service provision for patients.

The Healthcare Genetics and Genomics iBSc explores the importance and future potential of molecular and medical genetics in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human diseases. The course covers both a range of single gene disorders and complex disease genetics for conditions such as cancer, which have defects in multiple gene functions at their basis.