Timeline of key events in biotechnology

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COG-UK First Anniversary Science Showcase event2021-03-22T00:00:00+0000350,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced by COG-UK2021-03-25T00:00:00+0000COG-UK first anniversary2021-04-01T00:00:00+0000COG-UK begins to transition sequencing service provision to Public Health England/UKHSA2021-04-01T00:00:00+0000Article: MJ Hosie, et al 'Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory samples from cats in the UK associated with human-to-cat transmission', Veterinary Research, 188/8, e247.2021-04-01T00:00:00+0000123 years of compute time used by MRC-CLIMB to run workflow for COG-UK2021-04-01T00:00:00+0000SAGE Report: Update on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in prisons2021-04-21T00:00:00+0000Public Health England assigns Delta variant of concern2021-04-21T00:00:00+0000Wellcome Sanger Institute generated 25% of the world's SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences and approximately 65% of the data produced by the UK2021-05-01T00:00:00+0000Wellcome Sanger Institute sequencing 20,000 COVID-19 samples every week2021-05-01T00:00:00+0000Article published: E. Volz et al, 'Transmission of B.1.1.7 in England: Insights from linking epidemiological and genetic data', Nature, 593/7858, 266-692021-05-01T00:00:00+0000An experimental lentiviral gene therapy developed by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles and Great Ormond Street Hospital in London was given to 50 children diagnosed with adenosine deaminase deficiency, or ADA-SCID, aged from 4 months to 16 years in phase 1/2 clinical trials. Most of the participants acquired and retrained robust immune function between two and three years after the treatment. The results were published in DB Kohn, C Booth, et al 'Autologous Ex Vivo Lentiviral Gene Therapy for Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency', New England Journal of Medicine 384 (2002), 2002-13.2021-05-12T00:00:00+0000SAGE Report: Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in the University of Cambridge2021-05-19T00:00:00+0000The patient was a 58 year old man whose vision was destroyed by retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder which involves the break down of cells that absorb and convert light into brain signals. The gene therapy, also known as optogenetics, was designed to make new cells light-sensitive. Led by Dr. Jose-Alain Sahel, chairman of ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh, the treatment involved injecting a adeno-associated viral vector engineered to contain the genetic coding for a channelrhodopsin called ChrimsonR, which is capable of sensing amber light. After 5 months the patient was given special image-enhancing goggles which enabled him to see images and moving objects. The case was published in J-A Sachel, 'Partial recovery of visual function in a blind patient after optogenetic therapy', Nature Medicine, 24 May 2021. The treatment was given as part of a multicentre phase 1/2a trial run by GenSight Biologics. 2021-05-24T00:00:00+0000The treatment was given to Arthur Morgan, a five month old baby diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a rare genetic disease linked with paralysis, muscle weakness and progressive loss of movement. Most children born with the disease have a life expectancy of about two years. The treatment, Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec), developed by Novartis, usually costs £1.79m per dose and is one of the most expensive drugs in the world, NHS England has negotiated a discount for NHS patients under a managed access agreement, which allows for up to 80 patients to receive the drug each year. Arthur was treated at Evelina London Children's Hospital.2021-05-25T00:00:00+0000With all English Pillar 1 samples migrating for sequencing to PHE Laboratories, COG-UK academic partners stepped in to support the Wellcome Sanger Institute by distributing and sequencing high volumes of Pillar 2 samples (a minimum of 5,000 a week2021-05-26T00:00:00+0000AM Monteys et al (2021) 'Regulated control of gene therapies by drug-induced splicing', Nature, 596, 291-95.2021-06-28T00:00:00+0000Article: O Stirrup et al, 'Rapid feedback on hospital onset infections combining epidemiology and sequencing data', eLife2021-06-29T00:00:00+0000Article published: B.Meng, et al 'Recurrent emergence of SARS-CoV-2 spike deletion H69/V70 and its role in the Alpha variant B.1.1.7', Cell, 35/13, 102922021-06-29T00:00:00+0000Article: SM Nicholls, et al 'CLIMB-COVID: continuous integration supporting decentralised sequencing for SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance', Genome Biology, 22/1962021-07-01T00:00:00+0000
Date Event People Places Sciences
22 Mar 2021COG-UK First Anniversary Science Showcase event  Covid-19
25 Mar 2021350,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced by COG-UK  Covid-19
1 Apr 2021COG-UK first anniversary  Covid-19
1 Apr 2021COG-UK begins to transition sequencing service provision to Public Health England/ UKHSA Public Health EnglandCovid-19
Apr 2021Article: MJ Hosie, et al 'Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory samples from cats in the UK associated with human-to-cat transmission', Veterinary Research, 188/8, e247.HosieUniversity of GlasgowCovid-19
Apr 2021123 years of compute time used by MRC-CLIMB to run workflow for COG-UK  Covid-19
21 Apr 2021SAGE Report: Update on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in prisons  Covid-19
21 Apr 2021Public Health England assigns Delta variant of concern Public Health EnglandCovid-19
May 2021Wellcome Sanger Institute generated 25% of the world's SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences and approximately 65% of the data produced by the UK Wellcome Sanger InstituteCovid-19
May 2021Wellcome Sanger Institute sequencing 20,000 COVID-19 samples every week Wellcome Sanger InstituteCovid-19
May 2021Article published: E. Volz et al, 'Transmission of B.1.1.7 in England: Insights from linking epidemiological and genetic data', Nature, 593/7858, 266-69VolzImperial College LondonCovid-19
12 May 2021Gene therapy reported to restore immune function in children with rare immunodeficiencyDonald Kohn, Claire BoothUniversity of California Los Angeles, Great Ormond Street HospitalGene therapy
19 May 2021SAGE Report: Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in the University of Cambridge University of CambridgeCovid-19
24 May 2021Gene therapy reported to restore partial vision to blind person Sahel, Boulanger-Scemama, Pagot, Arleo, Galluppi, Martel, Degli, Delaux, de Saint Aubert, De Montleau, Gutman, Audo, Duebel, Picaud, Dalkara, Blouin, Taiel, RoskaSorbonne University, University of Pittsburgh, GenSight BiologicsGene therapy, Ophthalmology
25 May 2021First NHS patient treated with gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy Novartis, Evelina London Children's HospitalGene therapy
26 May 2021With all English Pillar 1 samples migrating for sequencing to PHE Laboratories, COG-UK academic partners stepped in to support the Wellcome Sanger Institute by distributing and sequencing high volumes of Pillar 2 samples (a minimum of 5,000 a week Wellcome Sanger InstituteCovid-19
28 Jun 2021New switch method published enabling precise control of gene editing providing means to refine and tailor gene therapiesMonteys, Hundley, Ranum, Tecedor, Muehlmatt, Lim, Lukashev, Sivasankaran, DavidsonUniversity of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of PhiladelphiaGene therapy
29 Jun 2021Article: O Stirrup et al, 'Rapid feedback on hospital onset infections combining epidemiology and sequencing data', eLifeStirrupUniversity College LondonCovid-19
29 Jun 2021Article published: B. Meng, et al 'Recurrent emergence of SARS-CoV-2 spike deletion H69/V70 and its role in the Alpha variant B.1.1.7', Cell, 35/13, 10292Bo MengUniversity of CambridgeCovid-19
1 Jul 2021Article: SM Nicholls, et al 'CLIMB-COVID: continuous integration supporting decentralised sequencing for SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance', Genome Biology, 22/196Sam NichollsUniversity of BirminghamCovid-19

22 Mar 2021

COG-UK First Anniversary Science Showcase event

25 Mar 2021

350,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced by COG-UK

1 Apr 2021

COG-UK first anniversary

1 Apr 2021

COG-UK begins to transition sequencing service provision to Public Health England/ UKHSA

Apr 2021

Article: MJ Hosie, et al 'Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory samples from cats in the UK associated with human-to-cat transmission', Veterinary Research, 188/8, e247.

Apr 2021

123 years of compute time used by MRC-CLIMB to run workflow for COG-UK

21 Apr 2021

SAGE Report: Update on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in prisons

21 Apr 2021

Public Health England assigns Delta variant of concern

May 2021

Wellcome Sanger Institute generated 25% of the world's SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences and approximately 65% of the data produced by the UK

May 2021

Wellcome Sanger Institute sequencing 20,000 COVID-19 samples every week

May 2021

Article published: E. Volz et al, 'Transmission of B.1.1.7 in England: Insights from linking epidemiological and genetic data', Nature, 593/7858, 266-69

12 May 2021

Gene therapy reported to restore immune function in children with rare immunodeficiency

19 May 2021

SAGE Report: Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in the University of Cambridge

24 May 2021

Gene therapy reported to restore partial vision to blind person

25 May 2021

First NHS patient treated with gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy

26 May 2021

With all English Pillar 1 samples migrating for sequencing to PHE Laboratories, COG-UK academic partners stepped in to support the Wellcome Sanger Institute by distributing and sequencing high volumes of Pillar 2 samples (a minimum of 5,000 a week

28 Jun 2021

New switch method published enabling precise control of gene editing providing means to refine and tailor gene therapies

29 Jun 2021

Article: O Stirrup et al, 'Rapid feedback on hospital onset infections combining epidemiology and sequencing data', eLife

29 Jun 2021

Article published: B. Meng, et al 'Recurrent emergence of SARS-CoV-2 spike deletion H69/V70 and its role in the Alpha variant B.1.1.7', Cell, 35/13, 10292

1 Jul 2021

Article: SM Nicholls, et al 'CLIMB-COVID: continuous integration supporting decentralised sequencing for SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance', Genome Biology, 22/196

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