Royal Marsden launches first UK genome testing facility to improve testing for cancer
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust has launched the UK's first-ever genome testing facility at the Sharjah Clinical Genomics Laboratory in the National Institute for Health and Care Researcher's Centre for Molecular Pathology, Royal Marsden, to increase genomic testing capacity for cancer patients.
The launch expands upon the 2023 announcement of a collaboration between Royal Marsden and Automata Technologies to leverage robotic automation to enhance the capacity for cancer genetic testing. By detecting genetic alterations in cancer cells that hasten the formation of tumors, somatic testing offers a target for customized cancer therapy. The new installation will increase the number of tests that can be conducted within the current laboratory area and double the capability for genome testing. Automata's LINQ platform, a "smart" laboratory bench that links equipment utilizing robotic and digital technologies, is automating sample paths for bone marrow, saliva, tissue biopsies, and blood. Six robotic arms are part of the project, which will boost the cancer testing labs's throughput without sacrificing precision.