NORTHERN GENETICS SERVICE

The Northern Genetics Service provides a diagnostic and "genetic counselling" service across the North East and Cumbria for individuals and families with problems or susceptibilities relating to genetic disorders. The clinical team is consultant led. It includes clinical geneticists who increasingly have subspecialty expertise (for example in cancer genetics and neuromuscular disorders), doctors in training, genetic nurse specialists and counsellors. At present a neuropsychiatrist, with special expertise in Huntington disease, and a neurogeneticist, with special expertise in mitochondrial disease, supplement the clinical team.

Genetic disorders can be: Chromosomal abnormalities which may be associated with problems in either individual development and/or familial reproductive problems. Single gene disorders such as muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s disease and cystic fibrosis. Familial cancer and cancer-prone syndromes such as inherited breast or colorectal cancer Birth defects and/or learning disabilities with a genetic component.