Jnetics screening advisor explaining to a school student how the saliva kit works at a GENEius school screening event

It is estimated that Jewish people of Ashkenazi ancestry have a 1 in 5 chance of carrying at least one of the main Jewish genetic disorders (JGDs), all extremely debilitating and often life-shortening.

Although there is no known cure for these, they are preventable through screening. However when it comes to educating about and testing for the most serious genetic disorders, UK Jewry lags behind countries such as Israel, America and Australia.

Jnetics was established in 2009 with a mission to change this and ultimately eradicate the nine most severe, recessive JGDs from the Jewish community.

In partnership with the NHS, Jnetics offers gene testing for these nine conditions to anyone aged 16+ with at least one Ashkenazi grandparent, either through the Jnetics clinic at Barnet Hospital or via its GENEius education and screening programme.

Launched in 2017, GENEius targets the young Jewish community: Year 12 Jewish school students, university students, and young professionals and couples going through the synagogue pre-marriage process. The Wohl Legacy has provided funding for the continued expansion of this programme, which has tested over 2000 participants to date.

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