The story of genomic care
Professor Clara Gaff told the story of how genomic care evolved in Victoria and shared her hopes for where it might go next.
Prof Gaff acknowledged that, while some in the audience had been part of Victoria’s genomics journey since it began, others were taking their first steps. “Today,” she said, “is about establishing common ground to move forward from.”
She then briefly explored the differences between genomics as a technology that looks at many genes at once to find changes, and genomic care as all aspects of patient-centred care that use this technology.
“Put like that, you can see why genomic care can never be the sole responsibility of a lab or a genetics service.” she explained. “It’s the shared responsibility of those providing care and those overseeing it.”
Prof Gaff outlined Victoria’s progress in genomics: from 2013, when clinical genomic testing effectively didn’t exist in the state’s healthcare; to 2015, when Victoria became the first place in the world to compare genomic testing with other health investigations in real time; to 2020, when a solid evidence base had been built; to 2025, when many of the pieces are in place for genomics to be widely used across the health system.
And then it was time for a reality check.
“Do you feel ready to go forth and do genomics now?” she laughed. “I suspect many of you will be saying, HELL NO!”
Many important questions still remained: from how genomics might work in different contexts, to how the workforce might take it on, and how Victoria could afford it at a time when health budgets are stretched. Prof Gaff pointed out that the following sessions would help answer these questions.
She ended by encouraging Victoria’s health services to maintain their momentum. “You’ve shown you can do more than adapt to constraint. You can make innovation flourish and grow.
“Melbourne Genomics was the catalyst… and now our role is almost done. The evidence is clear. The next chapter is ready to be written. What it says is up to you.”
Professor Clara Gaff is Executive Director of the Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance.
What role did Melbourne Genomics play in Victoria's genomics journey? Find out here.