Genomics can be incredibly valuable in tracking and managing infectious disease outbreaks. From Salmonella and TB to Ebola and the current Covid-19 pandemic, genomic sequencing has proven to be one of the most important tools in the rapid identification and tracing of infectious organisms, allowing for better understanding and management.

In this film we meet Professor Andrew Beggs from the University of Birmingham, who is part of a team developing a rapid RNA sequencing test for Covid-19.

Andrew tells us about the advantages that genomic sequencing of the virus has over current testing methods, and how these new tests could be used in the future to better manage outbreaks by identifying infected individuals early, often before they show symptoms.

This video is part of our free online course on whole genome sequencing, which is offered twice a year. Register here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/whole-genome-sequencing

Health Education England's Genomics Education Programme is developing a substantial educational programme to inform healthcare professionals about the impact of genomics on clinical practice. This video is one of many educational resources from the programme.

For more information, visit https://www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk

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