Julia Garnham Centre
Ex-colleagues Duncan Baker and Adam Hodgson are proof that friendship – as well as necessity – can be the mother of invention after coming up with the concept for a pioneering medical research facility.
The award-winning Julia Garnham Centre - a partnership between the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Children’s Hospital - was set up in 2021 and is based on a simple, but life-changing idea.
The centre gives the University’s bioscience students a rare chance to study the genomic variants of real patients, providing students with unique training and work placement opportunities and the satisfaction of applying their skills to benefit people.
Training the next generation of leaders in genetics
The advantages for the NHS are just as stark, with the flow of specially trained students creating an invaluable source of future NHS scientists. In addition, students work in partnership with NHS and academic experts to identify new genetic evidence to help provide a diagnosis to patients in cases previously considered uncertain or inconclusive. For patients with rare diseases, it means both an end to what was previously a diagnostic odyssey and access to treatment and other types of medical support.
For all its simplicity, the idea which launched the Julia Garnham Centre would have never seen daylight without the dedication of former Sheffield Children’s Hospital colleagues Duncan Baker and Adam Hodgson who were determined to stay in touch after Adam got a new job at the University.
Duncan said: “We just kept having lunches together, and we're just sort of throwing ideas around. We kept coming back to the question: ‘What can we do that's beneficial and means that we can keep working together?’
Adam continued: “We saw a gap in the market by thinking about the demand for work experience among students who emailed our department regularly with placement requests that, unfortunately, we were unable to provide.”
The pair’s friendship was as much a factor in getting the project off the ground as it was in inspiring the idea in the first place.
Duncan said: “We just pushed for it. It helped that there was only two of us involved, so you've not got too many parties to please, but it would never have worked without the NHS side and the University side being prepared to do that little bit extra to make it happen. You’ve got to be prepared to do that – and be passionate.
Adam added: “The fact that the project was not externally funded gave us free rein on what we wanted to use the partnership for but, in my experience, a partnership is only going to work if the relationship is there. The Centre works because Duncan feels as passionate about it as I do, and we are very good friends. I think if that wasn't there, it wouldn't have grown to where it is.”
National impact
The impact of the centre is today felt across the entire NHS genomics sector, with alumni of the JGC being employed in every genomic medicine service in England, and securing up to 40% of all new genomic trainees (NHS Scientist Training Programme Genomics and Cancer Genomics) across England.
The centre’s success has been recognised in other ways, with Adam now on the research and innovation steering group for North East and Yorkshire Genomic Medicine Service and plans to replicate the model in other areas.
Adam said: “There’s only one Julia Garnham Centre so we're working with NHS England via our Genomic Medicine Service to franchise it to other areas of our region. Through the NHS structure we have ambitions to move beyond the region and go national - and it feels like we’re pushing against an open door.”
The pair, who say they combine complementary skills in educational innovation and and enterprise, are extremely proud of what their partnership has achieved and the reputation that has come with it: “The success of the partnership means we are invited to conferences and influential professional steering groups, allowing us to have impact beyond the scope of our work with students.”
The centre’s success is not just a testament to the hard work and energy of Duncan and Adam. It is a fitting tribute to the memory of former colleague, Julia Garnham, who worked in the same hospital department which now houses the centre bearing her name.
“Julia worked here for many years but sadly died as she was retiring. We named the centre after her because she was a big character. She provides a great role model for our students because she was selfless in her approach to work. She made her workplace better with her experience, dedication and a unique ability to lift others around her! Everyone was very fond of her,” Duncan said.