6. 6. Statement: The Genomics for Precision Medicine Strategy

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:18 pm on 13 June 2017.

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Photo of Lee Waters Lee Waters Labour 5:18, 13 June 2017

Cabinet Secretary, I'm genuinely excited about the potential of this strategy, not only as a health intervention, but as an economic intervention, too. Genomics is one of the fast-emerging industries of the much talked-about fourth industrial revolution. We’ve discussed some of the unparalleled health advantage—we're told we can expect cancer treatments, for example, 20 times more powerful than current interventions. But I am particularly encouraged that we've looked beyond the health impact to how we might position ourselves as a global leader in this mind-blowing science.

But we do need to match our ambition with rigour, and I'd urge the Cabinet Secretary to be clearheaded in precisely where Wales’s competitive advantage in this huge and rapidly evolving field might lie. High-quality, foreign direct investment in life sciences, for example, is generally attracted to Cambridge or the M11 corridor, which could leave Wales just pitching for what is left behind. So, can I ask him to tell us how clear he is on precisely where we can bring a unique contribution to the table, where our existing expertise might offer us the competitive edge? And, once we're clear on that, then we must be ruthless in pursuing these opportunities. Diolch.