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Healthcare

How Genomics England Accelerated Ground-Breaking Genetic Research
with MFT

Genomics England partnered with Pro2col to automate their complex file transfer and approval processes, enabling researchers to access genomic data faster while maintaining strict security and compliance.

10x

Faster Request Processing

Automates approvals and handles requests while maintaining peak efficiency.

 

400%

Increase In
Capacity

Massive scale up of data requests
processed from researchers.

Reduction In Customer Wait Times

Researchers access data faster, cutting wait times by days.

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The Environment 

Genomics England needed to speed up their complex approval system, enabling researchers to carry out ground-breaking medical research within strict security protocols. They knew automation via Managed File Transfer (MFT) could be the
answer. With requirements well beyond the scope of standard MFT, they turned to Pro2col for help.

Owned by the Department of Health, Genomics England was set up to deliver the 100,000 Genomes Project. This flagship initiative sequenced over 100,000 whole genomes from NHS patients with rare diseases and their families, as well as patients with qualifying cancers.

The primary aim was to establish the use of whole genome sequencing in routine  healthcare within the NHS. The resulting dataset enables new scientific discovery and insights, whilst kickstarting the UK genomics industry. Genomics England holds genomic and clinical data in a tightly controlled research environment, which authorised analysts and researchers can access for their research. The data is anonymised, but there are still extremely tight consent models to ensure absolute security and integrity at all times.

Genomics England Logo

About Genomics England 

Genomics England is a UK government organisation working with the NHS to bring genomic science into everyday healthcare. Its work helps doctors diagnose rare diseases and cancers more accurately and supports researchers in developing new, personalised treatments.

The organisation manages one of the largest secure genomic and clinical datasets in the world, with over 140,000 whole genomes linked to hospital records, cancer treatments, and mental health data, all accessed in controlled, cloud-based environments to ensure compliance, security, and efficient research.

Healthcare Test Tubes

The Challenge 

Genomics England previously used a manual File Transfer Protocol (FTP) process. The team would Airlock incoming requests whilst they were checked and verified, then gather additional information via email from the end user. Once approved, they’d notify the infrastructure team to transfer the files into the designated environment. 

"We needed to bring as much automation in as possible in order to reduce the wait time for the researchers and create more of a self-serve system” states Genomics England’s Research Environment Project Manager, Andy Paynton. “However, this had to be measured against an absolute necessity for any process to remain secure and in complete compliance with our strict approval and Airlock policies. It also needed to be totally auditable and allow us to maintain a record of everything being transferred in and out of the research environment.” 

A Partnership Approach

Knowing their project requirements were far from standard, it was important to find both a solution configurable to their needs and a provider who could work with them to carry out the necessary development. 

Pro2col worked closely with the team at Genomics to review the product marketplace to identify the best managed file transfer tool for their requirements. The solution recommended by the Pro2col technical team allows the data request process to be built around secure form features, enabling the automation of large parts of the approval process while maintaining full control, visibility, and detailed audit trails.

We were confident Pro2col would be able to do the far‑from‑standard configuration we needed. They didn’t disappoint. Our unique challenges went well beyond the scope of a typical MFT project… Pro2col weren’t phased at all, coming up with a workaround that involved designing eight different types of form to accommodate the multiple requests we deal with.”

Solution

Genomics England operates a tightly controlled Airlock process that governs what data is permitted to enter and make it exit their secure Research Environment. All proposed imports and exports are held in the Airlock for review and approval, ensuring compliance with consent models, security policies, and audit requirements. The Airlock acts as a secure gateway: requests to move data in or out are first submitted via online form, then reviewed against strict consent and governance criteria. Only data that cannot identify individual participants and that meets security and policy rules is approved for release, ensuring the highest standards of ethical and secure data access.

“We use LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) to verify user identities and ensure requestors have the appropriate levels of authorisation to proceed,” explains Andy Paynton, Research Environment Project Manager. This ensures that only authorised personnel can submit or approve requests, maintaining both compliance and security.

The Genomics England Airlock System

Genomics England Airlock System gif

 

As demand increased, the Airlock evolved from a one‑person operation into a three‑person team reviewing day‑to‑day requests and consulting subject matter experts on more complex cases. Automation was essential to reduce researcher wait times without compromising security or governance. Pro2col delivered the tailored MFT solution, automating approval workflows and supporting the full range of Airlock requests, including the added complexity of Genomics England’s staging environment.

Scientists in the laboratory

The Results

"Aside from their impressive technical expertise, Pro2col listened and really understood what we were trying to do, going out of their way to come up with the right solution. They were very good at knowledge transfer too, so we have additional skills to do our own enhancements and changes in the future. It’s great credit to them as a supplier that they took the time to do that.”- Andy Paynton.

Since the system went live, Genomics England has already seen substantial benefits across the business. The speed and efficiency of transfers has improved significantly and the time that researchers now have to wait has been reduced. Genomics England has also been able to free up valuable time within their Airlock and infrastructure teams.

Products & Services Used

Solution Guidance

Guided the client in selecting the ideal solution and provided expert support throughout implementation.

MFT & SFTP Servers

Delivered secure, reliable file transfers with encrypted SFTP servers for internal and external data exchange.

Workflow & Reporting

Designed automated workflows and real-time reporting for improved efficiency and operational visibility.

Training & Bootcamps

Delivered CFTP training and Bootcamp attendance to enable the client to manage systems independently.

Disaster Recovery

Implemented a highly available system with disaster recovery failover to ensure uninterrupted operations.

Staging Environments

Created safe staging environments to validate workflows and configurations before going live.

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Resources to Help Your Research

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