UK Scientists Call For National DNA Database for Personalized Medicine

January 26, 2012

January 26, 2012 | A group of UK scientists argue that a national DNA database is needed if the National Health Service is to capitalise on advances in technology and offer personalised medicine to all in the future. Sir John Bell, chair of the Human Genomics Strategy Group, said a national database was necessary to deliver genomic medicine in the future. "It's almost impossible to go forward with the whole personalised medicine agenda, unless you have this database," Bell said. Such a database "benefits everybody" -- the public, clinicians, the research community and pharmaceutical companies, who are likely to be given access to anonymised data to help develop new drugs. Daily Telegraph