The UK is set to create the world's first real-time surveillance system to monitor the threat of future pandemics.
A new partnership will be formed between the government, Genomics England, UK Biobank, NHS England, and Oxford Nanopore.
Oxford Nanopore already uses long read sequencing technology to analyse genes and pathogens to rapidly diagnose a range of cancers, along with rare and infectious diseases. The company's technology will be used to help to create an early warning system for future pandemics and potential biological threats, both preventing disease and protecting the public.
It will be used in the expansion of NHS England’s Respiratory Metagenomics programme, being led by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT), which uses samples from patients with severe respiratory infections and rapid genetic testing to match those patients with the right treatments within 6 hours.
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: "If we fail to prepare, we should prepare to fail. Our NHS was already on its knees when the pandemic struck, and it was hit harder than any other comparable healthcare system.
"We cannot let history repeat itself. That’s why this historic partnership with Oxford Nanopore will ensure our world-leading scientists have the latest information on emerging threats at their fingertips.
"As we embrace the technological revolution, our 10-Year Health Plan will shift the NHS away from analogue to digital, saving countless more lives."
Science and technology secretary Peter Kyle said: "During the Covid pandemic, we saw the power of the UK life sciences sector very clearly, from the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine that saved so many lives, through to operating one of the world’s most effective Covid surveillance systems, which spotted several emerging variants of the disease.
"This partnership will build on that expertise to monitor emerging diseases as they arise, putting our scientists and decision-makers one-step ahead and providing the information they need to make informed decisions.
"Together with the ability to better diagnose cancers and rare diseases, we are leveraging UK life sciences to protect the public and ultimately save lives."
