The Yorkshire and Humber GMC is supported by a robust programme management structure with both a Programme Manager and Clinical Director, led through a Partnership Board, and representing the key partners across the region, including the Academic Health Science Network and academic colleagues.
The Board is responsible for the development and on-going management of the GMC ensuring that robust governance arrangements are in place to enable both strategic and clinical decision making.
There is active patient involvement throughout the programme, which also includes a seat at the Partnership Board to ensure patient views are reflected in our programme.
The Partnership Board is supported by an Operational Board responsible for delivering the five key workstreams; Information Technology, Laboratories, Patient Public Involvement, Cancer and Rare Diseases.
Meet the team
Gill Wilson
Dr Gill Wilson is the Programme Manager for the Yorkshire and Humber NHS Genomic Medicine Centre. She was previously a Consultant Clinical Scientist in Genetics. She will be responsible for leading the project management arrangements, and in conjunction with Dr Andrew Jack, will be particularly focussed now on engaging with all the Trusts in the region to prepare for full roll-out.
Victoria Hilton
Victoria is the Project Assistant for the genomic medicine centre working at the Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network. She previously worked in consumer research but has moved roles to support projects closer to her degrees in Biochemistry.
She is responsible for the coordination of activities across the Yorkshire and Humber NHS Genomic Medicine Centre and its workstreams as well as assisting and supporting the Patient involvement PPI panel.
Helen Dickinson
Helen Dickinson is the Site Co-ordinator for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Helen has been a clinical scientist based in the Genetics department at St James’ Hospital since the 1980s, with a particular interest in the genetics of cancer. As operational lead for molecular oncology building a team including oncologists, histopathologists, genetic scientists and University academics, Helen is very enthusiastic about the 100,000 genomes programme and the very real clinical benefits that it will bring for our patients.
Jodie Mills
Jodie Mills is a Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant within the Sample Management Team, within Sheffield Diagnostic Genetics Service. She is responsible for the team of MLAs who will be undertaking the DNA Extraction and OMIC sample processing of samples.
Sarah Hart
Sarah Hart is a Senior Medical Laboratory Assistants within the Sample Management Team, within Sheffield Diagnostic Genetics Service. She is responsible for the team of MLAs who will be undertaking the DNA Extraction and OMIC sample processing of the GMC samples.
Janice Nunn
Dr Janice Nunn is the GMC Operation Lead for the Sheffield Laboratories for the Yorkshire and Humber NHS Genomic Medicine Centre. She will be responsible for leading the Sheffield Genetic laboratory management arrangements, and in conjunction with the team at Sheffield Diagnostic Genetics Service will be ensuring all laboratory processes run efficiently.
Debbie Beirne
Debbie Beirne has a nursing background and is currently NIHR Leeds CRF Manager and Deputy Director. She has many years’ experience within a cancer setting and cancer research setting. As part of this remit, Debbie has led on patient and public engagement work contributing to local, regional and national PPI initiatives. Her role in the 100,000 Genome project is as workstream lead for PPI and communications for the Yorkshire & Humber Genomic Medicine Centre (GMC). Debbie is part of the core operational management team for delivery of the project and supports PPI representatives who contribute to the overarching Partnership Board.
Julie Atkey
Julie has been a Clinical Scientist/ Training Coordinator in Leeds Genetics Laboratory (Cytogenetics) for 13 years.
Now Education and Training manager for the Yorkshire and Humber NHS Genomic Medicine Centre, a 12 month secondment, based within Organisational learning at St James’s Hospital, Leeds, Julie will be working with the Operational and PPI groups in order to develop a strategy for genomics education of specialist and non-specialist NHS staff, patients and also the general public across the region.
She will also collaborate with other Genomic Medicine Centre education and training leads in order to ensure a consistent national approach. Julie also intends to organise school and University events, information stands and other roadshow visits, and so will be looking for willing volunteers to go out and spread the word.
If you are interested in getting involved in school and university events, you can get in touch via Julie.Atkey@nhs.net
Denise Hancock
Denise qualified as a RGN in 1987 and has worked predominantly for Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.
Prior to her secondment as a Senior GMC Specialist Nurse for the 100,000 Genome Project Denise spent 14 years as an Oncology Research Sister, working on commercial and non-commercial clinical trials across most disease areas but concentrating on Breast and Gynaecology.
Her role will help to make a significant contribution to the leadership and delivery of the 100,000 Genome Project across the Yorkshire and Humber region.
Bridget has over twenty years project, operational and process improvement experience in Health Care in both South Africa and the UK. She has been responsible for the successful implementation of complex system and business change projects with a focus on service development and both clinical and non-clinical stakeholder management ensuring business continuity across multiple work streams. Bridget’s role as a YHGMC Business Analyst is to work closely with multiple clinical teams across the YHGMC sites and LDP’s to review and document ‘AS IS’ process flows, incorporating the 100 000 Genome Project requirements including IT functions and creating ‘TO BE’ process flows for submission to NHS England in order to Go-Live and for use within the teams as a process implementation tool.Bridget Morgan
Chris has worked as a Business Analyst specialising in the healthcare sector in both the UK and China for over 5 years. He has designed and overseen the development and implementation of clinical systems that have now been adopted by thousands of NHS organisations around the country. Chris is responsible for ensuring that the various clinical systems used by the Yorkshire and Humber NHS Genomic Medicine Centre are capable of capturing the data required by the project and for designing systems and automated processes that will bring that data together for electronic submission to Genomics England.Christopher Knowles