NHS England has launched a pioneering medical pilot that slashes the waiting time for brain tumour diagnosis from eight weeks to just two hours, allowing surgeons to make life-saving decisions while patients are still on the operating table.
The rapid genomic test, which is being piloted across five specialist UK centres, uses advanced “nanopore sequencing” technology. By analysing the genetic code of tumour samples in real-time, the system provides a molecular profile that previously required nearly two months of laboratory work.
For the 12,000 people diagnosed with primary brain tumours in Britain each year, the development represents a significant shift in how the disease is treated. Because brain tumours have approximately 150 variants, knowing the specific type of growth is vital for determining how much tissue a surgeon can safely remove.
How the “magical” test works
Developed by researchers at the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, the process uses shoebox-sized sequencing machines produced by Oxford Nanopore.
During a procedure, a small sample of the tumour is placed into the device. Within two hours, surgeons receive a classification of the tumour grade. A more detailed integrated diagnosis profile is then typically available within 24 hours. This speed allows medical teams to adjust their surgical strategy immediately, rather than waiting weeks for pathology results to confirm if a growth is aggressive or benign.
Professor Frankie Swords, NHS England’s medical director, described the technology as a “huge leap forward” for cancer care. The rapid results also mean patients can be fast-tracked into clinical trials and start targeted radiotherapy or chemotherapy much sooner than under the traditional system.
One of the first patients to benefit from the technology was 55-year-old Steve Palmer from Nottingham. During his surgery, the test identified a grade 4 glioblastoma, a highly aggressive form of cancer. The immediate feedback allowed his surgical team to act with full knowledge of the tumour’s genetic makeup while he was still in theatre.
National rollout and availability
The technology is currently being piloted at five specialist NHS sites:
- Nottingham University Hospitals
- University Hospitals Birmingham
- Great Ormond Street Hospital, London
- King’s College Hospital, London
- Newcastle Hospitals
A second phase of the rollout is planned to expand the service to Bristol, Oxford, Leeds, and Manchester. At present, there are no trusts in the South East or Sussex area included in the initial pilot phases, as the technology is currently restricted to these major specialist genomic hubs.
According to NHS pilots rapid genomic test for brain tumour diagnosis, the initiative aims to standardise high-speed molecular profiling across the health service, potentially setting a new global benchmark for neuro-oncology.
While the test is currently focused on brain tumours—with more than 12,000 people diagnosed with a primary brain tumour in Britain each year—the success of the pilot could pave the way for similar rapid genomic testing for other forms of cancer in the future.