THE NHS Trust responsible for Leighton Hospital has reached a major milestone in a landmark study.
Mid Cheshire NHS Trust has recruited more than 1,000 participants in a newborn screening programme that could change the future of rare disease diagnosis and care.
Known as the Generation Study, the programme offers whole genome sequencing to newborns and screens for more than 200 rare but treatable genetic conditions.
The study is one of the largest of its kind in the world, aiming to screen 100,000 newborns across England.
Caroline Dixon, senior research team lead midwifery at Mid Cheshire NHS Trust, said: "We are incredibly proud to have worked with such a significant number of families.
"Having 1,000 participants is a fantastic achievement for our team and reflects the willingness of local people to support research that could transform care for future generations."
Mid Cheshire NHS Trust joined the national programme in September 2025.
Less than nine months later, they are celebrating reaching 1,000 participants.
At Leighton Hospital, expectant parents are informed about the study during pregnancy.
A midwife then discusses the programme in detail to ensure parents can make an informed decision.
After birth, a member of staff reconfirms consent before collecting a blood sample, usually from the umbilical cord, for sequencing.
Jaime Halvorsen, director of research and development at Mid Cheshire NHS Trust, said: "The success of this project at our maternity unit highlights our ambition to make research part of everyday care across the trust, bringing the very latest advances directly to our patients.
"By taking part, families are enabling earlier diagnosis, faster access to treatment, and better outcomes for children, while also helping to shape the future of NHS care."
If a genetic change linked to a treatable childhood condition is found, families are offered further NHS testing and ongoing support.
The aim is to improve or extend lives by enabling earlier intervention.
The study could help to identify conditions such as metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), a rare disorder that causes progressive nerve damage and loss of physical and mental abilities.
Dr Rich Scott, chief executive officer of Genomics England, said: "We believe genomics can transform healthcare in this country and be used to get ahead of serious illness.
"It has been incredibly moving to see the life-changing impact the Generation Study is having for families.
"Every year thousands of babies are born in the UK with rare genetic conditions, but they can be hard to diagnose."
The Generation Study does not replace the routine NHS blood spot (heel prick) test, which screens newborns for ten rare but serious conditions.
All babies are still advised to complete the heel prick regardless of participation in the genome study.
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