Genetic Medicine is one of the largest and most comprehensive
genetics directorates in the UK and Europe, integrating a
multidisciplinary clinical and laboratory genetics service, which
serves a population of over 5 million, with academic programmes in
molecular genetics and health services research.
In Manchester, clinical genetics services (both diagnostic and
counselling) are provided from clinics at St. Mary's Hospital and
in an outreach network of facilities throughout the north-west of
England. All the main medical sub-specialties of genetics are
represented. The Willink Biochemical Genetics Unit has recently
been incorporated into the directorate and as well as offering a
comprehensive outpatient service, this unit has inpatient beds on
Ward 85 in the Royal Mancester Children's Hospital, adjacent to St.
Mary's.
Our genetics laboratories include a long-established
cytogenetics laboratory, a molecular diagnostic laboratory and the
Willink laboratories. The molecular lab hosts one of two National
Genetics Reference Laboratories, which has an active research
programme, particularly in bioinformatics. The lab also hosts the
UK and European coordinating centre for quality assurance in
molecular diagnostics.
We have a well-established research record with a number of
programmes of research including cancer genetics, developmental and
functional eye disorders, biochemical genetics and birth defect
syndromes. The directorate is strongly associated with the
Manchester Biomedical Research Centre and with Nowgen - A Centre
for Genetics in Healthcare.