Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the importance of prompt, large-scale molecular testing to the efficiency of commercial clinical trial recruitment, particularly in cancer; and of how prompt, large-scale molecular testing influences industry decisions on country prioritisation and site selection, in particular for late-phase trials conducted in England.

As set out in the Life Sciences Sector Plan, the Government aims to double commercial interventional trial participants by 2026, and again by 2029.

Access to large-scale molecular testing will play a role in delivering against this aim, since molecular testing can identify patients with specific biomarkers and target them into clinical trials. More consistent and equitable genomic testing across England will encourage commercial sponsors to place their clinical trials at research sites in the United Kingdom.

To deliver this, we are embedding genomic testing as routine practice within the NHS Genomic Medicine Service and its workforce. This includes seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs delivering comprehensive genomic testing and analysis, such as whole genome sequencing, as part of routine care. The Genomics Education Programme is responsible for upskilling the entire multi-professional, multi-specialty National Health Service workforce in genomics.

The Government also supports the Rare Cancers Private Members Bill. The bill will make it easier for clinical trials on brain cancer to take place in England, by ensuring that the patient population can be more easily contacted by researchers.