Submitted by aml95 on Thu, 18/06/2026 - 12:34
A service pioneered at Addenbrooke’s Hospital that could help up to three times more cancer patients benefit from whole genome sequencing (WGS) has won a national award and been accredited for use across the UK.
WGS is a cutting-edge genetic test that is available on the NHS to inform diagnosis and treatment for many cancers, particularly those that are complex or hard to treat. It can identify different types of cancer with high specificity and provide vital information that directly impacts patient care.
Until now, tumour samples for WGS needed to be collected and rapidly frozen, and kept frozen for transport, increasing financial and environmental costs.
However, in an innovation pioneered by Dr John Tadross, a consultant molecular pathologist at CUH who is molecular pathology clinical lead for East Genomics and a Research Professor at the IMS-MRL, the sample can now be preserved in a stabilising solution and transported at room temperature instead, meaning that tumour samples can be collected at any hospital in the region at any time and sent to CUH without the need for freezing.
The process is now nationally accredited, and is expected to be rolled out in other regions across England.
"Whole genome sequencing can make a huge difference to a person's cancer journey, and it's vital that we remove barriers to testing so as many people as possible can benefit. Our teams have worked closely together to deliver this change, which will improve diagnosis and treatment for many more people."
John Tadross
Dr Tadross and colleagues were recently presented with the Royal College of Pathologists Achievement Award 2026 for Sustainability at a ceremony in London earlier this week in recognition of the environmental benefits of transporting samples without the need for freezing.
