PEOPLE in Oxfordshire with cancer and rare diseases could get advanced diagnosis and treatment under a new genetics project.

The Government today announced Oxford as one of 11 centres to collect a total 100,000 genomes – a person’s complete DNA sequence.

It is hoped the nationwide £300m project will aid research but also give accurate diagnoses so patients get the best drugs and treatments.

Researchers hope it will help them predict and prevent disease, create better tests and improve treatments.

Volunteers will be sought from February 2 and the three-year project will use facilities and staff at the John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals.

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A full list of diseases that researchers want to test and how people can volunteer to be tested will be announced before the project begins.

The Oxford NHS Genomic Medicines Centre will be run by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust with support from Genomics England and DNA firm Illumina.

Trust consultant haematologist Anna Schuh said: “This programme will transform NHS diagnostic services and will help train a new generation of diagnosticians and researchers.”

Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron said: “This agreement will see the UK lead the world in genetic research within years.

“I am determined to do all I can to support the health and scientific sector to unlock the power of DNA, turning an important scientific breakthrough into something that will help deliver better tests, better drugs and, above all, better care for patients.”

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