Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 February 2022
709. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the work undertaken by his Department to promote research in the third-level education sector on genetics and genomics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6443/22]
View answerI welcome the Deputy's question about genetics and genomics research, given the growing importance of such research and innovation for decision-making and treatment by clinicians, delivering real impacts to patients and their families. I also note growing awareness and interest in this topic, which derives in part from the current focus on genetic mutations in the SARS-Cov-2 virus, and genetic sequence-based surveillance which is informing public health measures globally.
I am pleased to say that the Health Research Board, our lead agency with responsibility for supporting clinical, population health and health services research, is active in this agenda. Their new strategy for the years 2021-2025 contains an action to “engage with the Department of Health, the HSE and others to explore opportunities and interfaces for current and future investments in genomic research and personalised medicine”.
In December 2021, the HRB convened stakeholders (including Science Foundation Ireland, researchers, clinicians, patient organisations, and the HSE) to discuss current opportunities and challenges for Ireland in genomics medicine, research and innovation. The HRB is coordinating an application from Ireland to join a Digital Europe funding programme call to support member states to develop the necessary data infrastructure (and skills and standards) to collect, store, manage, share and analyse genomic datasets within and across EU member states, in a secure, transparent and trusted manner. The consortium will secure European funding to allow authorised data users, such as clinicians and researchers, to advance our understanding of genomics for more precise and faster clinical decision-making, diagnostics, treatments and precision medicine, and for improved public health measures that will benefit citizens, healthcare systems and the overall economy.
This is an important step to ensure that investment in Ireland in genomic medicine and research is appropriately governed, acceptable to citizens, and will enable global research efforts towards improving healthcare.
The HRB will establish a national mirror group to follow these developments in the EU (including the One Million Genomes Project and the Beyond 1 Million Genomes project) and will strive to connect researchers (clinicians and funders) in areas that will benefit from being able to share and analyse genomics data, in particular rare diseases and cancer, where the HRB is also actively supporting research at national and EU-level.
Genomics and personalised medicine will be important issues to consider in the context of the new National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation, led by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. I am committed to working with other Government departments and agencies to this important agenda to capitalise on our collective national investments and plans in genetics and genomics research, to sustain efforts in capacity-building, and to plan for adequate research infrastructure to support these developments. By working together towards a coherent framework and common principles, we can foster a vibrant portfolio of research in genetics and genomics, amenable to academic and industry partnerships, and which will support and drive advances in healthcare for our citizens.
