Major investment in groundbreaking programme to speed up cancer diagnosis in Wales

12 December 2025

A major £2.52 million investment will accelerate the use of cutting-edge liquid biopsy technology that analyses cancer DNA from a blood sample, supporting faster and more personalised treatment decisions. 

The funding, including £1.2m from the Welsh Government and £1.3m from the UK Office for Life Sciences (OLS), will support the next phase of the QuicDNA programme, known as QuicDNA Max. In addition, the new liquid biopsy programme has attracted grant donations from four pharmacogenomic companies. 

QuicDNA, which initially focused on lung cancer diagnosis, uses a technique called circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) testing. When cancer cells grow, they release tiny fragments of DNA into the bloodstream. By analysing these fragments from a blood sample, doctors identify its genetic makeup and choose the most effective treatment. This approach is far less invasive than traditional tissue biopsies. Early data indicates faster treatment for patients than with the tissue biopsy diagnostic pathway, highlighting the transformative potential of this approach.

QuicDNA Max will now expand ctDNA testing to other cancer types and roll it out across all Welsh health boards. It will also support recruitment of specialist staff and embed genomic testing into routine NHS care.

The initial QuicDNA study, led by the All Wales Medical Genomics Service (AWMGS), was supported by a wide range of partners, including Welsh Government, Welsh Health Boards, Cardiff's Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, Aneurin Bevan UHB and Cardiff and Vale UHB R&D teams as sponsors, Velindre Cancer Service, Life Sciences Hub Wales, industry partner Illumina, several pharmaceutical companies, the Moondance Cancer Initiative and patient advocate Craig Maxwell.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles said: “The QuicDNA Max programme is a shining example of how Welsh-led research can be scaled up to tackle other cancers, leading to earlier diagnosis and potentially quicker, more personalised treatments.  I am proud that research carried out here in Wales is attracting additional funding for the benefit of all.”

UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said: "Early diagnosis is crucial for treating cancer, and can make a huge difference to outcomes for patients.

"This promising work on blood tests could help get cancer patients treatments better-tailored to them, sooner, and without the need for invasive biopsies. It's a great example of how we're backing medical research that stands to make a meaningful difference to NHS patients in Wales."

Suzanne Rankin, Chief Executive of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Senior Responsible Officer for the QuicDNA Programme, said: “This investment is a game-changer for cancer care in Wales. It will allow us to scale up the use of ctDNA testing beyond lung cancer, recruit the specialist workforce we need, and embed cutting-edge genomic technologies across all health boards. By doing this, we can diagnose cancers earlier, personalise treatments, and give patients across Wales access to the very best in innovative care.”

The programme supports the UK Government’s Health Mission to reduce lives lost to cancer and its Growth Mission to boost economic opportunities in diagnostics and genomics, as set out in the Life Sciences Sector Plan published in July 2025.

The QuicDNA Max Programme is one of many initiatives that form Wales’ ongoing genomics strategy. It will feature in the upcoming Genomics Delivery Plan for Wales (2026–2029), developed by Genomics Partnership Wales and endorsed by Welsh Government, which sets out the next three years of genomics delivery with the aim of continuing to improve patient care and population health.