What will it take to code genomics into the heart of healthcare?

As Australia stands at a crossroads in integrating genomics into the fabric of its healthcare system, Dr Erin Evans, CEO of InGeNA and Madeline O’Donoghue, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Pathology Technology Australia (PTA) join this Health Industry Hub podcast for a candid conversation that unpacks the opportunities and the challenges that lie ahead.

Dr Evans reflects on what was uncovered at InGeNA’s recent roundtable on the draft National Health Genomics Policy Framework. The ambition is clear: scale genomics nationwide. Yet, urgent system and policy gaps must be addressed if the framework is to go beyond rhetoric and into real-world implementation.

The conversation then dives deeper into one of the country’s most ambitious cancer genomics programs, led by Omico, which has already demonstrated survival benefits for patients who receive matched therapies. Yet both guests emphasise that clinical trials can’t remain the only entry point. Embedding genomics into mainstream clinical practice – across both public and private sectors – is the real test of a fit-for-purpose, universal healthcare system.

O’Donoghue brings sharp insight into the economic and societal toll of inaction. She points to a recent PTA report showing that delays in access to genomic testing don’t just impact clinical outcomes; they create ripple effects across families, communities, and the economy. Australia must confront hard questions about sustainable, equitable funding – federally and at the state level. The current patchwork approach, she argues, leaves too many Australians behind.

There are lessons to learn, too. The UK’s NHS has staked a bold claim by positioning genomics as one of five key technologies in its 10-year plan to personalise care and fuel economic growth.

Could Australia do the same, especially under a re-elected Labor government likely to remain in power for the next six years, offering a rare window to drive meaningful reform during a longer political cycle?

In reimagining healthcare across the entire patient journey, Health Industry Hub^TM is the only one-stop-hub uniting the diversity of the Pharma, MedTech, Diagnostics & Biotech sectors to inspire meaningful change.

The Health Industry Hub^TM content is copyright protected. Access is available under individual user licenses. Please click here to subscribe and visit T&Cs here.