Professor Joanne Hackett is the Commercial Director and lead member of the Commercial Business Committee at Genomics England (GeL). She has been actively involved in clinical research for over 15 years in Canada, America, Germany, Sweden and the UK. An accomplished entrepreneur, scientist and strategist, she has experience in the execution and management of complex business transactions, as well as broad business development experience in negotiation, execution and management of hundreds of transactions with pharma, biotech, academia and non-profit organisations. Her expertise in creating connections between industry, academia and the NHS will help inform solutions GeL are currently tackling and support the growth of the UK genomic medicine industry.

Genomics England was set up by the Department of Health to deliver the 100,000 Genomes Project. This ambitious consent-based project is the largest national genome sequencing effort of its kind in the world. Participants are NHS patients with a rare disease, plus their families, and patients with cancer. GeL are creating a new genomic medicine service for the NHS to support better diagnosis and better treatments for patients, enabling medical research, and kick-starting a UK genomics industry.