8 February 2016

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that Scotland is set to become a “global centre of excellence” in precision medicine, tackling diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis thanks to a £4 million government investment.

At a visit to the Stratified Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow on Monday, the First Minister heard how the funding will be used to keep Scotland at the forefront of global efforts to tackle complex diseases.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon hears how precision medicine is having an impact in treating illnesses and serious conditions.

Ms Sturgeon said:

This is a really exciting development that could transform how we treat some of the most serious illnesses.

“To be able to analyse the DNA of a tumour, for example, to determine how best to fight that patient’s cancer, is a fascinating step forward in medical science and something that this Government is absolutely committed to investing in.

“The Precision Medicine Ecosystem will undoubtedly reap benefits for patients in Scotland, by speeding up the development of new medical therapies and enhancing the health care treatment options that are on offer for patients.

“This Government will continue to strive to further enhance Scotland’s growing reputation as a global centre of excellence for clinical research.

“Continued investment in precision medicine can undoubtedly help bring health and wealth benefits for generations to come.”

Precision medicine is the practice of linking detailed biology such as DNA to health and disease, allowing treatment to be tailored to the individual characteristics of each patient.

Professor Anna Dominiczak, Vice-Principal and Head of the University of Glasgow’s College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, said:

Finding new ways to provide the right drug to the right patient at the right time, tailored to their genetic and molecular make up, will create a revolution in healthcare. We’re proud that Scotland is breaking new ground in this very exciting field of research, and we’re prouder still to be playing a leading role in the Scottish Precision Medicine Ecosystem.”

First Minister @NicolaSturgeon announces £4m ‘Precision Medicine Ecosystem’ https://t.co/2Xw6aQS6FS pic.twitter.com/3G8X6kxKDE

— UofG News (@UofGNews) February 8, 2016