A rapid genomic test capable of diagnosing brain tumours within hours instead of weeks is being trialled by the NHS in a world-first pilot announced on 25 September 2026. The technology scans a patient’s DNA during active brain surgery, allowing surgical teams to identify specific tumour types on the operating table.
How the Rapid Genomic Brain Tumour Test Works
Traditional pathology requires clinics to send tissue samples to external laboratories where human specialists inspect them under a microscope, a process that frequently takes weeks. The new NHS pathway utilises a shoebox-sized sequencing machine developed by Oxford Nanopore, paired with specialist software from the University of Nottingham. Small tissue samples go directly to the pathology lab, where DNA molecules pass through a tiny hole—a nanopore—to reveal the tumour’s unique genomic fingerprint. Dr Simon Paine, a consultant neuropathologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, explained that the genomic test provides comprehensive molecular classification with far greater clarity than standard microscopy.
NHS Trial Locations and Expansion Plans
NHS England launched the pilot across five specialist centers: Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospital, and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The initiative builds on earlier groundwork already underway in Nottingham and Birmingham, and health officials plan to extend the rollout to sites in Bristol, Oxford, Leeds, and Manchester. More than 12,000 people receive a primary brain tumour diagnosis in the UK every year, with the disease remaining the most deadly cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40.
Clinical Impact and Expert Response
Professor Frankie Swords, medical director at NHS England, described the wait for answers as agonising for families, noting that the rapid test could transform diagnostics by delivering results in days or hours. “For some patients it could mean surgeons can make potentially life-changing decisions about their surgery while on the operating table,” Professor Swords said. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper called the technology an incredible breakthrough, while Dr Karen Noble of the charity Brain Tumour Research stated that genomic testing holds the power to transform diagnosis and treatment paths. The pilot aims to shorten turnaround times so patients can initiate targeted treatment or access clinical trials much sooner.
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