Below you’ll find updates from Denise Barnes, our Lead Midwife, on MiGG’s.net, Fasting Hyperglycaemia in Pregnancy, the Newborn Genomes Programme – Generation Study, and the upcoming Festival of Genomics.
North East and Yorkshire Midwives in Genetics and Genomics Network (NEY MiGG’s.net)
Our fourth network meeting was held in October, with a focus on clinical genetics. We were fortunate to be joined by Richards Sayers (Principal Genetic Counsellor, Sheffield Clinical Genetics Service), Rachel Theobald (Genetic Counsellor, Northern Genetics Service) and Kathryn Moore (Genetic Counsellor, Yorkshire Regional Genetics Service) who all provided insight into this service and guidance around who and how to refer.
We also shared updates from national, regional and local work. It’s a great opportunity to discuss genomics in midwifery care. Our next NEY MiGG’s.net meeting is Friday 17th January 2025, 13:30 – 15:00 with a focus on fetal medicine. Please email me to join the network [email protected]
Raising awareness of Glucokinase (GCK) related Fasting Hyperglycaemia in Pregnancy
Testing for GCK is available for the eligible population as described in the National Genomic Testing Directory, however most Trusts do not have a consistent pathway to identify, test and follow up people in the antenatal period. We are working on a local, regional, and national approach to this.
Starting next year, we are supporting awareness raising of this specific pathway and would be grateful of any insight you can provide. You may be contacted directly by our diabetic specialist midwives so please share with your diabetic team. If you would like to be involved, please let me know [email protected]. Find out more about GCK and monogenic diabetes here.
Newborn Genomes Programme – Generation Study
As you may know from our last newsletter, a new research study has started in England to sequence the genomes of around 100,000 babies to identify around 200 serious conditions. These identified conditions are ones for which there is funded treatment via the NHS. This study is in addition to, and does not replace the offer of, the routine newborn screening programme and newborn blood spot test. Find out more here.
We have three Trusts in the North East and Yorkshire currently exploring how to set up this research study, and more will be approached by Genomics England as the study expands.
Festival of Genomics
I’m delighted to share that I will be speaking at The Festival of Genomics & Biodata, taking place on the 29th-30th January 2025 in London. The agenda is packed full of the latest developments in genomics and is free for over 90% of attendees – register now if you’d like to join me there!