Melbourne Genomics is an alliance of leading hospitals, research and academic institutions, working to bring genomics into routine healthcare.
Here is how genomic medicine has advanced in Victoria in the 10 years since the Alliance was formed.
The difference genomics makes
Susan's story
The day after Susan Shorter’s last immunotherapy session, she and her husband Brian got in their caravan and headed off to the holiday home they’d never had a chance to see.
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Edward's story
For paediatric doctor Cara, understanding the cause of her son’s kidney disease was crucial.
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Charlie and Rosie’s story
Genomic testing discovered the ultra-rare reasons for Charlie and Rosie’s mystery illnesses.
Learn MoreDelivering Value
$4.7M
Delivered to Victoria through use of Medicare-funded genomic tests
Delivered to Victoria through use of Medicare-funded genomic tests
>150M
In research and government funding leveraging Melbourne Genomics member investment
In research and government funding leveraging Melbourne Genomics member investment
$20.8M
Estimated health system savings to date from use of genomic testing for conditions investigated by Melbourne Genomics
Estimated health system savings to date from use of genomic testing for conditions investigated by Melbourne Genomics
>$2.4M
Efficiency gains by using the Genomical software platform from 2021-23.
Efficiency gains by using the Genomical software platform from 2021-23.
Melbourne Genomics 2013-2023
2003
- The first near-complete human genome is sequenced by the Human Genome Project.
2013
- Seven organisations (The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The Royal Children’s Hospital, University of Melbourne, WEHI, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, CSIRO and AGRF) form the Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance. Their shared aim is to bring genomics into healthcare in Victoria.
2014
- Five projects are launched to investigate the clinical utility of genomics in real-world healthcare.
- Melbourne Genomics forms its Community Advisory Group.
- Experts plan for a shared data management system for genomic testing. This eventually becomes Genomical.
- Victorian Government funding enables twice as many patients to be offered genomic testing
2015
- First peer-reviewed paper from Melbourne Genomics projects published in Genome Medicine.
- First education workshop for diagnostic scientists on variant interpretation.
- Victorian Government contributes $25M to Melbourne Genomics for a new four-year program
2016
- First clinical results from Melbourne Genomics projects published in Genetics in Medicine. They provide critical evidence for Medicare to fund genomic tests for some children.
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Austin Health and Monash Health join Melbourne Genomics.
- Six new projects begin to investigate the use of genomics in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, solid cancers, complex children’s conditions, immunology, deafness and heart conditions.
- First education event for clinicians. 105 people attend.
- Victorian Government commits $8.3M for public access to genomic testing for people with rare conditions.
2017
- The 1000th patient receives genomic testing through Melbourne Genomics program.
- Five more projects investigate genomics in bone marrow failure, neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, superbugs, kidney disease and perinatal autopsy.
- Victoria releases its Genetic and genomic healthcare 2021 framework.
- Victorian Public Healthcare Award for Improving Children’s Health is jointly won by VCGS, Melbourne Genomics and The Royal Children’s Hospital.
- Community Advisory Group recognised in the Minister for Health Volunteer Awards
2018
- The first of 23 evidence reports is submitted to the Victorian Government – showing the medical benefits, cost-effectiveness and value of genomics
2019
- GenoVic, a world-first software platform for clinical genomic data, goes live in Victoria.
- More than 3,000 patients have now received genomic testing through Melbourne Genomics program.
- 1,000 people have now participated in Melbourne Genomics education.
- Over 260 guests attend ‘Translating Genomics, Transforming Care’ – a symposium to share results from Melbourne Genomics projects
2020
- Medicare begins to fund genomic testing for children with suspected genetic conditions.
- Five laboratories are now using GenoVic for genomic testing.
- The Victorian Government announces $35M for a final Melbourne Genomics program
2021
- A new Controlling Superbugs project begins. The project informs guidelines on using genomics to stop hospital superbugs, which are published in the Lancet Microbe.
- 10,000 clinical genomic tests have now been run through GenoVic
2022
- Medicare funds genomic testing for people with suspected genetic kidney disease and cardiomyopathy.
- New projects explore models of care for using genomics in oncology, nephrology, transplants and dementia care
- The first ‘genomic snapshot’ of superbugs in Victoria is produced
2023
- Healthcare leaders discuss the implementation of genomics in Victorian hospitals.
- Online resources help paediatricians and nephrologists to order Medicare-funded genomic tests.
- GenoVic software platform becomes Genomical: Your launchpad for genomic medicine.
- Melbourne Genomics celebrates its 10th birthday
2025
- The final Melbourne Genomics program comes to an end: equipping Victoria with tools, models and evidence to embed genomics in the health system
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Melbourne Genomics acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, on whose lands we work, and all First Nations peoples across Victoria. We pay respect to Elders past and present. We also acknowledge the First Nations health professionals, researchers and leaders who are shaping the future of genomic medicine.
© 2014–2024 Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance