NHS South East Genomic Medicine Service

What NHS South East Genomic Medicine Service does

NHS South East Genomic Medicine Service is a publicly funded UK healthcare delivery organization operating as one of the regional Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs) within NHS England's national Genomic Medicine Service framework. Established in 2018 and staffed by a small coordinating team (~15 employees), it commissions and coordinates genomic testing across South London, Kent, Medway, Sussex, and Surrey, drawing on partner laboratory infrastructure at Guy's & St Thomas', King's College Hospital, Royal Brompton, and St George's NHS Foundation Trusts. The service portfolio centers on Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) for rare diseases and cancer, supplemented by specialty services including cardiovascular genetics, circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) testing, pharmacogenomics, and the National Congenital Neuromuscular Service.

Its core technology stack comprises clinical-grade sequencing (WGS, WES, SNP microarray), targeted variant panels (e.g., MT-RNR1 for aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss, Lynch syndrome MMR gene testing), and liquid biopsy workflows. The service operates a comprehensive test directory aligned with the National Genomic Test Directory, and is the national lead for Lynch syndrome screening, raising bowel/womb cancer patient coverage from <50% to 95%. It also runs educational and workforce programs, including the Genomic Ambassador Network and the Patient & Community Voices Forum.

The business model is non-commercial: the service is funded through NHS England's public commissioning budget, with no per-test charges to referring NHS trusts. Revenue mechanics are public-sector budget allocation rather than market sales; go-to-market is via integration into NHS clinical pathways, with tests ordered by GPs, hospital specialists, clinical geneticists, and nurses. Customer segments are NHS patients requiring genomic diagnosis and the NHS clinicians who order and interpret those tests. The service has no parent company in the traditional corporate sense — it operates under NHS England governance — and is positioning as the first health system globally to embed genomics into routine healthcare.

Name

NHS South East Genomic Medicine Service

Legal name

South East Genomics (NHS Genomic Medicine Service)

Website

https://southeastgenomics.nhs.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The NHS South East Genomic Medicine Service is a publicly funded genomic laboratory hub that delivers Whole Genome Sequencing, rare disease, cancer, pharmacogenomic, and cardiovascular genomic testing to NHS patients across South London, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex through NHS clinical pathways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Genomics Services

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Molecular Diagnostics & Genomics Laboratories (HLAFAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Genetic & Genomic Testing (germline, somatic, carrier, pharmacogenomics) (HLAAALAD), Population Genomics & Preventive Precision Health Programs (HLAAANAL), Molecular & Genetic Testing (PCR/NGS/qPCR) (HLAGADAF), Genetic, Cytogenetic & Prenatal Screening IVD (HLAHAAAI)

Keywords

• Genomic medicine services
• Whole genome sequencing
• Cancer genomic testing
• Rare disease diagnostics
• Pharmacogenomic testing

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. NHS Publicly Funded Healthcare Service: As an NHS Genomic Medicine Service, the organization is publicly funded through the UK National Health Service. Funding for genetic investigations is held by the genomic medicine service laboratory hub, and appropriate specialist referring clinicians in secondary care can request genetic investigations directly with no charge to referring Trusts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NHS South East Genomic Medicine Service operates as an NHS Genomic Laboratory Hub delivering genomic testing for patients across South London, Kent, Medway, Sussex and parts of Surrey. Core services include Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) for rare diseases and cancer, cardiovascular genetic testing, circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) testing, pharmacogenomic testing, Lynch syndrome screening, and primary care test ordering for conditions such as cystic fibrosis carrier status, hereditary haemochromatosis, and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

Product overview

NHS South East Genomic Medicine Service provides a comprehensive genomic testing service portfolio for patients across South London, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. The core offering centers on Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) for rare diseases and cancer, supplemented by specialty testing including cardiovascular genetics, circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) testing, and pharmacogenomics. The service enables direct genetic test ordering in primary care for conditions such as cystic fibrosis carrier status, hereditary haemochromatosis, and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Key initiatives include a national Lynch Syndrome screening program and the Generation Study for newborn screening. Educational services include the Genomic Ambassador Network for nurses and midwives and specialty-specific training across cardiology, oncology, pharmacy, and clinical genetics. The service operates as an NHS Genomic Laboratory Hub, coordinating with Clinical Genetics teams and supporting mainstreaming of genomic testing into routine clinical pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)
• Cancer Whole Genome Sequencing
• Rare Disease Whole Genome Sequencing
• Cardiovascular Genetic Testing
• Circulating Tumour DNA (ctDNA) Testing
• Pharmacogenomic Testing
• National Congenital Neuromuscular Service
• Lynch Syndrome Screening
• Genetic Test Ordering in Primary Care

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of patients with bowel or womb cancers in England now get screened for Lynch syndrome (compared to less than 50% before the work began)

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Cancer Alliances across the South EastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating with Cancer Alliances across the South East region to implement standardised Lynch syndrome screening in NHS hospitals.
• Clinical Genetics TeamscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with Clinical Genetics teams across the region to support mainstreaming of genomic testing and coordinate patient care.
• North Thames Genomic Medicine ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating with North Thames Genomic Medicine Service on the national Lynch syndrome screening project.
• Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical Genetics service at Guy's and St Thomas' provides support for healthcare professionals ordering genomic tests and manages complex cases.
• St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical Genetics team at St George's provides specialist support, patient information leaflets, and coordinates care for patients with genetic conditions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Genomics England: Government-owned company running the 100,000 Genomes Project and the Generation Study newborn sequencing programme that NHS GLHs feed into and draw sequencing infrastructure from. Strategic partner and structural peer in the UK public genomics ecosystem.
• NHS North West Genomic Medicine Service: One of the seven NHS England GLHs delivering equivalent rare disease, cancer and pharmacogenomic testing across the North West. Direct peer under the same national genomics commissioning structure.
• NHS North Thames Genomic Medicine Service: Another NHS England Genomic Laboratory Hub delivering WGS, rare disease and cancer genomic testing for a defined English region. Directly comparable as a peer GLH operating the same national test directory and commissioning framework.
• Synnovis Analytics: Operates the Molecular Pathology Laboratory at King's College Hospital, a partner lab hub used by NHS South East GMS for hereditary haemochromatosis and other tests. Functions as both an in-network partner and a comparable UK NHS-affiliated molecular diagnostics provider.
• NHS Central and South Genomic Medicine Service: NHS GLH covering central and southern England with the same mandate of delivering the National Genomic Test Directory. Direct operational peer in test menu, lab hub structure, and NHS commissioning model.

Broad incumbents

• Centogene NV: Commercial rare-disease and pharmacogenomics laboratory offering WGS, WES, and panel testing globally. Comparable in test menu and rare-disease focus, but operates on a paid, international commercial model rather than NHS commissioning.
• Myriad Genetics: Established commercial clinical genetics laboratory with hereditary cancer, pharmacogenomic, and rare-disease tests. Comparable test portfolio targeting similar clinical indications, but commercial rather than NHS-funded.
• Illumina Clinical Services: Operates clinical whole-genome sequencing services and supplies NGS platforms that underpin NHS GLH workflows. Comparable as an upstream and adjacent clinical-sequencing service provider in the same WGS/NGS category.
• Invitae (now Labcorp Genetics): Large commercial clinical genetic testing laboratory offering hereditary cancer, rare disease, and pharmacogenomic panels. Comparable in test categories served, but functions as a global paid diagnostic service rather than a public-sector GLH.

Regional players

• Sonic Genetics (Sonic Healthcare): Australian-headquartered clinical laboratory network offering genetic, prenatal and molecular diagnostics. Comparable as a multi-site clinical lab with genetic testing capability, though it primarily serves Asia-Pacific rather than the UK NHS market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutu.be/xuX0OL3Apcs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-east-genomics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NHS South East Genomic Medicine Service