Embedding clinical metagenomics into NHS diagnostic pathways | LC26

Abstract
Clinical metagenomics is a rapidly advancing field in infectious disease diagnostics, using next-generation sequencing to identify pathogens directly from clinical samples without prior assumptions. In this presentation, Dr Adela Alcolea-Medina will describe the development, validation, and national implementation of a standardised metagenomics workflow in the UK for comprehensive detection of pathogens in specimens. Following this, Dr Luke Blagdon Snell will present the clinical impact of this approach within the National Health Service (NHS), sharing his experience as a clinician using the workflow in routine practice. The talk will also highlight the feasibility and diagnostic performance of this service, and its influence on clinical decision making for critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients with infections.

Biography
Adela Alcolea-Medina is a Consultant Clinical Scientist in Pathogen Sequencing at Synnovis and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital. She trained in Pharmacy at the University of Valencia and specialised in Clinical Microbiology in Madrid, later achieving UK consultant equivalence. She completed a PhD at King’s College London, developing a novel human DNA depletion method for metagenomic sequencing. Her work underpins the NHS Respiratory Metagenomics Network and focuses on implementing nanopore sequencing for pathogen detection and outbreak investigation in clinical settings.
Biography
Dr Luke Blagdon Snell is a physician and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Lecturer in microbiology and infectious diseases. He studies pathogen evolution and develops genomic diagnostics. The department translates rapid genomics into clinical care for pathogen detection, antimicrobial resistance prediction, and outbreak analysis. In 2025, he became Lead for Clinical Implementation of the UK NHS Respiratory Metagenomics Network.