Personalised medicine in action: PROGRESS study advances to Phase II

The PROGRESS project, a national pharmacogenomics research study, is transforming primary care by incorporating genetic insights into everyday prescribing practices across England.

Pharmacogenomics uses genetic information to improve medication safety and effectiveness, reducing adverse drug reactions and enhancing patient outcomes. The PROGRESS study is at the forefront of exploring how pharmacogenomic testing can be implemented in primary care and expanded across the NHS.

This project is supported by the NHS England Genomics Programme through the Pharmacogenomics and Medicines Optimisation Genomic Network of Excellence, led by the NHS North West Genomic Medicine Service Alliance.

Following the success of Phase I and the launch of Phase II, the study is delivering valuable insights and making significant progress towards adopting personalised medicine within the NHS.

Phase I achievements

Recruitment and demographics

Phase I of the study exceeded expectations, enrolling over 250 participants in the North West of England. These participants represented a wide range of ages and ethnicities, reflecting the demographics of the local population.

Participants ranged from 18 to 92 years old, with particularly strong engagement from young adults aged 20 to 24 and seniors aged 65 to 69. Most were recruited based on prescriptions for statins (drugs that can lower your cholesterol) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—a commonly prescribed type of antidepressant—demonstrating the value of pharmacogenomics for these widely used medicines.

Impact on patients

Preliminary results showed that 28% of participants received pharmacogenomic recommendations that altered prescribing decisions. This highlights the significant potential of genetic testing to improve both medication safety and effectiveness.

Innovation through eConsenting

Challenges in integrating research into busy primary care settings were addressed through the introduction of eConsenting, which allowed patients to provide consent remotely. This innovation, combined with direct sample submission to the NHS North West Genomic Laboratory Hub, led by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) made the process more efficient and reduced delays.

Phase II expansion

Phase II is broadening the study’s reach, with recruitment now extending across England. This phase also introduces ProgressRx, a cutting-edge digital tool designed to integrate pharmacogenomic results directly into prescribing systems.

What is ProgressRx?

ProgressRx is an “end-to-end diagnostic interpretation tool” that seamlessly translates genomic test results into practical prescribing advice. It integrates into existing NHS clinical decision support (CDS) systems, reducing the cognitive burden on prescribers while providing real-time, patient-specific guidance.

CDS provides timely information, usually at the point of care, to help inform decisions about a patient’s care. CDS tools and systems help clinical teams by taking over some routine tasks, warning of potential problems, or providing suggestions for the clinical team and patient to consider.

Key features of ProgressRx include:

  • Real-time guidance: Informs prescribing decisions using individual genetic data without disrupting workflow.
  • Interoperability: Works with the national Unified Genomic Record (UGR), creating a single, lifelong genomic profile for each patient that can be accessed across healthcare settings.
  • Seamless integration: Hosted in the NHS cloud, it aligns with existing CDS systems to support fair, evidence-based decision-making.

Transforming patient care

By tailoring prescriptions based on genetic insights, ProgressRx reduces the risk of adverse drug reactions, hospital admissions, and ineffective treatments. It also delivers cost efficiencies by optimising medication use, making it both a patient-centred and economically sustainable solution.

A vision for the future

The PROGRESS project is addressing barriers to the national implementation of pharmacogenomics, paving the way for personalised medicine to become standard practice.

Through collaboration with enabler stakeholders ProgressRx exemplifies innovation in action.

Trials at selected sites have shown its seamless integration into primary care, and existing primary care clinical decision systems (CDS), reiterating the opportunity and potential for a nationwide rollout.

Professor Bill Newman

As Professor Bill Newman, Clinical Director of the NHS North West Genomic Medicine Service Alliance and Consultant in Genomic Medicine at MFT, and national lead for the PROGRESS research study explained: “For pharmacogenetics to be successfully embedded in healthcare, an end-to-end service like ProgressRx, which links testing to prescribing, is essential.

“With ProgressRx and the insights from the PROGRESS study, the NHS is poised to take a bold step towards personalised medicine, improving outcomes for millions of patients across England,” he added.

About the PROGRESS project

The PROGRESS project is an NHS England-funded initiative led by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and the NHS North West Genomic Medicine Service Alliance. It supports the national rollout of pharmacogenomics and medicines optimisation across the NHS, ensuring that innovative genomic medicine is accessible to all patients.

More information in relation to enabler stakeholders can be found on our website: https://www.nw-gmsa.nhs.uk/about-us/our-projects/genomic-networks-excellence/pharmacogenomics-and-medicines-optimisation-genomic-network-excellence