All Wales Medical Genomics Service

12/06/2026

🏆 Celebrating Excellence at AWMGS 🏆
We are incredibly proud to share that Dr Alex Murray, Consultant Geneticist at the All Wales Medical Genomics Service (AWMGS), has been recognised at the Moondance Cancer Awards 2026 in the 'Excellence' category.
Dr Murray’s nomination highlights exceptional leadership during a period of significant growth and demand for cancer genomics services. As Clinical Director, Dr Murray successfully led a multidisciplinary team through a 25% increase in cancer genetics referrals, ensuring patients continued to receive timely and safe care.
A key achievement recognised in the nomination was the introduction of a medically-led triage system, helping to prioritise referrals, streamline pathways, and improve both patient experience and service efficiency. Dr Murray also played a pivotal role in implementing the UK Somatic Variant Interpretation Guidelines (UK-SVIG) within AWMGS - enhancing the consistency and quality of somatic variant interpretation.
Through her leadership, Dr Murray has helped to strengthen clinical pathways, increase service capacity, and support the development and training of genetic counsellors, ensuring AWMGS can continue to meet the evolving demands of cancer genomics.
This award is highly deserved and reflects not only Dr Murray’s dedication and expertise, but also the strength and innovation of her team, who worked so hard to achieve this standard of care for patients.
👏 Huge congratulations to Dr Murray and everyone involved—an outstanding achievement that showcases the ambition and determination to adapt, evolve and improve patient care across Wales.

12/06/2026

🌟 Award-Winning Collaboration Across Wales 🌟

We’re proud to share that AWMGS' Solid Tumour Team has been part of an award-winning collaboration at the Moondance Cancer Awards 2026, with the South East Wales Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) Team taking the win in the 'Cancer Treatment' - Innovation & Improvement category.

This award celebrates a truly collaborative, patient-centred approach to managing CUP - bringing together partners from across multiple Health Boards, organisations and disciplinaries.
Through strong multi-disciplinary working across oncology, radiology and pathology, the team has developed a comprehensive and innovative service for patients with CUP.

Key achievements include the introduction of a bespoke e-referral system, a patient feedback framework, and the integration of molecular profiling as standard practice.
These improvements have transformed care, supporting earlier and more accurate diagnosis, enhancing treatment planning, and ultimately improving patient outcomes. The work has also driven a significant increase in referrals and treatment rates, while gaining national recognition and helping to shape best practice across the UK.
For AWMGS, being a part of this collaboration highlights the vital role genomics plays in modern cancer care, and the impact of working in partnership to deliver innovation at scale.

👏 Congratulations to our Solid Tumours Team, all organisations and colleagues involved - this is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through collaboration to improve care for patients across Wales.

11/06/2026

We have a number of colleagues and teams attending the Moondance Cancer Initiative awards ceremony tonight.
Having been shortlisted for an award, they've already been rightly recognised as some of the most innovative and exceptional teams and talents from across NHS Wales.
You can read some of our nomination summaries below 👇🏼
We wish all those in attendance the best of luck tonight with their nominations, and hope you all enjoy the awards ceremony, you truly deserve it!

11/06/2026

Last week, members of our Bioinformatics Team attended the Association for Clinical Genomic Science (ACGS) Summer Scientific Meeting, embracing the opportunity to showcase their expertise to peers, leading experts and genomics organisations from all over the UK.

Sam presented his poster around the topic ‘Developing bespoke cloud infrastructure for genomics in Wales.'
Sophie presented a poster on ‘Bespoke bioinformatics approach for detection of large INDELs in FFPE samples.'
Joseph gave a presentation about ‘practical applications of LLMs in clinical genomic science.
Erik presented on the topic ‘Best recommendations for bioinformatics approaches applied to high-throughput sequencing for rare disease and cancer diagnosis within the UK National Health Service.

Outside of Bioinformatics, our very own Sian Morgan also shared insight into the rise of liquid biopsy in cancer pathways in Wales - Sian talked about the Quic DNA Max study, it's progress, and impact on patient outcomes.

A huge well done to all of those who attended and presented on the day and a big thank you to our team members who represented AWMGS so well! It is amazing to see your work and that of your Bioinformatics Team recognised on a national level.

05/06/2026

A huge 'Happy Volunteer's Week' to our Genomics Partnership Wales Sounding Board Volunteers! We appreciate the insight and lived experience you bring to improving our understanding of living with or supporting a person living with a genetic condition or rare disease, and the impact you have on other patients, research and the future of genomics in Wales.

Applications to join our Patient and Public Sounding Board are closing on Sunday 31st May, but there’s still time to register your interest!

We want to hear from individuals with a range of direct and indirect experience including:

• Rare Disease
• Inherited Cancers
• Developmental Delay Disorders
• Genetic Testing
• And more!...

Find out more and register your interest here: https://orlo.uk/LQ4xq

02/06/2026

At the Genomic Showcase in April, we came across Amy and Friends Cockayne Syndrome and Trichothiodystrophy Support, an organisation supporting children, young adults and their families and carers, who are living with DNA repair disorders in childhood.
It was great to talk to Meg at the stall and to also hear Amy's Mum, Jayne, speak so passionately on one of the panels.
Amy and Friends are committed to improving the lives of families affected by DNA repair disorders, with their network of staff, volunteers, health care professionals and expert medical professionals, they are providing invaluable support with compassion and dedication.
You can read more about Amy and Friends, their journey and the types of support they offer to families here;
https://amyandfriends.org

01/06/2026

We just had to share this fantastic resource with you!
Recently launched by the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Oxford, 'Genes, Brains, and Breakthroughs', is a 16-part series featuring bite-size animation videos explaining genetics, variants, neurodevelopmental conditions, and emerging therapies.

The series was developed in collaboration with families, clinicians, researchers, and international patient advocacy organisations to deliver knowledge about genetics in a patient/family-friendly tone.

These videos are a great resource for families living with genetic conditions and also for anybody simply looking to learn more about genetics.

🧬 Educational animations about genetics, neurodevelopmental conditions, and emerging therapies. This 16-part series was co-created with families, researchers, and advocacy groups to make complex science accessible, clear, and hopeful. Topics include genetic variants, inheritance, genetic testing,...

21/05/2026

If you’d like to be a part of shaping and progressing care in Cardiff and the Vale, you can join the Health Board’s Co-production group.

The Co-production Group focuses on working together in new ways to support people with long-term conditions in Cardiff and the Vale.

Everyone is welcome:
• Anyone who accesses healthcare
• Carers
• Community organisations
• Charities and Third sector organisations
• Healthcare staff

The group meets once a month online and enables people to work together and participate as equal partners to support people to live well.

To mark Co-production Week Wales, the LiveWell team will be out talking to staff, patients and visitors about how they can get involved.

Find them at:
• Barry Hospital Information and Support Centre - Wednesday 20th May, 9.30am - 1.00pm
• University Hospital Llandough UHL Information and Support Centre - Thursday 21st May, 8am -12.20pm

For more information, please visit https://orlo.uk/uhwz5

18/05/2026

Today, our Rare Disease Consultant Nurse, Rhiannon Edwards spoke at the HSJ Events 'Reducing Health Inequalities Forum'.
Rhiannon is the UK's FIRST EVER Rare Disease Consultant Nurse, and she's based right here at AWMGS, with special thanks to Carecircle!
During her talk, Rhiannon explained her role in developing the world's FIRST ever Digital Rare Care Centre and how it is going to make information and support much more accessible and equitable for the 3.5 million individuals in the UK living with a Rare Disease.

We'll be bringing you more updates about this exciting project for the Wales Rare Disease Community over the coming months as it progresses. Stay tuned!

13/05/2026

We're grateful to our nurses for the fantastic work they do to support our patients, from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.