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The Guardian
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Lowering Australia's voting age to 16 without fortifying civic foundations would be misguided
Every few years, Australia resurrects the idea of lowering the voting age to 16 – usually prompted by a campaign or because some other country (with a fairly different electoral context) is doing so. And every time, we fail to address the question of whether we are prepared as a nation; in my opinion, the answer is no. It's not that I'm philosophically opposed to enfranchising 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds. After all, democracy thrives on fresh voices. The hitch comes when you hand a driving licence to someone who has never sat behind a wheel. Without robust civic and media‑literacy education, and without any clear evidence that 16- and 17-year‑olds themselves demand this change, we'd be giving young Australians an Ikea flat‑pack democracy with no instruction manual. I won't dignify the cognitive capability argument against lowering voting age – sharp minds exist among teens as well of course. But readiness is another matter. Internal efficacy – belief in one's ability to effect change – runs low: in the Australian National University Generation study of 3,131 16- and 17-year-old Australians, just 3.5% backed a lowered compulsory vote, 18% wanted a voluntary ballot and more than 70% favoured keeping the voting age at 18. This mirrored past statistics among older voting youth and the overall voting public – highlighting public reluctance for lowering voting age. This lack of confidence isn't surprising when earlier this year, school students have recorded their lowest civic‑knowledge scores in two decades, and 47% of gen Z voters said their main motivation for casting a ballot in 2022 was avoiding a $20 fine, not civic conviction. Thinking about where they get their information from, social media reigns supreme when it comes to news consumption. Forty per cent of 18-to-24-year‑olds get news on Instagram and 36% on TikTok, yet only 24% of all Australians have had news‑literacy training, according to the 2025 Digital News Report. Given this fragmented media landscape where political misinformation is rife and AI chatbots are increasingly asked to provide tailored news, any notion of voluntary voting – or haphazard enfranchisement – is nonsense unless we first mandate robust civics and media‑literacy education. Independent MP Monique Ryan's proposal of the fallback option of voluntary voting for 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds risks tampering with what ties our young people to the democratic system. If we waive fines for teen no‑shows, we'll replace steady turnout with shrugging indifference (precisely the problem our UK counterparts are trying to solve). In Australia, state-initiated registration and mandatory voting keep our youngest cohorts turning up in significantly higher numbers than in most democracies. In my PhD research across 35 OECD nations, these were the most important electoral design features that drive youth participation, not voting age. Removing them now would be a step backwards, not forwards. Now let's talk party politics. Young voters today are no monolithic bloc but a fractured constellation of issue‑driven minds. Election analyses show 18-to-29-year‑olds are more likely to switch allegiances mid‑campaign and to abandon major parties altogether. Ryan's bid to lower the voting age makes political sense: gen Z are already drifting towards independents and minor parties such as the Greens more than their predecessors, the millennials. So in practice, any voting‑age reform will likely remain a partisan tug‑of‑war rather than a matter of democratic principle. The Greens have been pushing to extend the franchise to 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds, arguing it would amplify youth voices in policymaking (even though enfranchised younger voters today remain poorly represented in policy outcomes than their parents). Labor fears that a younger, more progressive electorate would hand the Greens an entrenched advantage – and that voluntary voting for teens could undermine Australia's compulsory model. The Coalition seems wary that any electoral tweak is likely to advantage the left. Viewed this way, lowering the voting age looks less like principled reform and more like partisan manoeuvring – although injecting a small new cohort is unlikely to upend the broad electoral currents already in motion. Lowering the voting age certainly won't magically bridge the trust gap between young Australians and their representatives. Unless we first diagnose why so many youths distrust politicians, simply adding unprepared 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds to the roll risks token turnout or – under a voluntary scheme – a surge in protest abstention. The solution isn't a standalone ballot‑box fix but a two‑pronged approach (while maintaining compulsory voting): first we must invest in compulsory civics, media and digital‑literacy education across our secondary schools, and only then can we negotiate lowering voting age. Perhaps the moment is ripe to roll out these reforms in tandem. I'll leave it to Ryan, the Greens and the ALP to whatever mix of electoral legacy‑building or genuine youth advocacy they pursue – but I remain unconvinced that enfranchising new voters without fortifying their civic foundations is anything but misguided, if not downright harmful. Dr Intifar Chowdhury is a youth researcher and a lecturer in government at Flinders University
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Rewriting Genetic Fate: Universal Newborn Genomic Screening Arrives
Tiny baby in grey clothes sleeps on woolen blanket In Destiny's Child No Longer: Rewriting Genetic Fate, we envisioned a world where every newborn would be screened for genetic risks. We see a future in which the randomness of genetic inheritance could be met with knowledge, preparation, and, ultimately, intervention. Today, that vision is rapidly becoming reality on both sides of the Atlantic. The United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) has announced a landmark plan to offer whole genome sequencing to every newborn. At the same time, Florida's Sunshine Genetics Act has set the stage for a statewide pilot of newborn genomic screening. These developments are a shift in public health. They stand to transform the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of rare diseases for generations to UK's Ambitious National Rollout The NHS's new initiative will, over the next decade, provide every newborn in England with comprehensive DNA analysis. This effort builds on the success of the Generation Study. This program sequenced the genomes of 100,000 infants to screen for over 200 rare, treatable genetic conditions. The government has committed £650 million to this program, aiming to move beyond the current heel-prick blood test—which screens for just nine conditions—to a system capable of detecting hundreds of single-gene disorders and risk factors for complex diseases. The program is shifting the NHS from reactive care to proactive, personalized healthcare. By identifying disease risks at birth, the NHS hopes to reduce the burden of illness and extending healthy lifespans. The UK's ambitious newborn genome sequencing program is set to make every newborn in England eligible for whole genome sequencing by 2030. This comprehensive framework positions the UK as a global leader in genomic medicine. Furthmore it is setting a precedent for how large-scale, ethically responsible genetic screening can be integrated into national healthcare systems for the benefit of future Sunshine Genetics Act: A U.S. Model Emerges Across the Atlantic, Florida has surged to the forefront of rare disease research with the passage of the Sunshine Genetics Act. Signed into law in July 2025, this legislation launches a five-year pilot program to sequence the genomes of newborns statewide. The Act allocates $3 million to the Sunshine Genetics Pilot Program. It establishes the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at Florida State University, with additional funding from both state and university sources. The program also focuses on ensuring participation remains voluntary and contingent upon parental consent. The Sunshine Genetics Consortium, formed under the Act, unites leading researchers, clinicians, and biotech innovators from across Florida's top institutions. Their mission: to accelerate diagnosis, pioneer new treatments, and end the diagnostic odyssey faced by families affected by one of the more than 7,000 rare diseases impacting 30 million and Future Directions The initiative by the UK and Florida represents a true shift, one that we predicted, in how we approach disease. Early results from multiple studies have shown that genome sequencing can identify actionable conditions and diseases. Furthermore, genome sequencing can identify these conditions far sooner than traditional screening methods. This enables interventions that can alter the course of a child's life. That said, the path to this new approach is not without challenges. As always, there are ethical concerns to address, including consent, privacy, and the potential for genetic discrimination. All these concerns require oversight, thought, and care. Additionally, equitable access to these technologies is another concern, which is important globally and will remain a pressing issue as new technologies emerge. Ongoing research and public dialogue will be essential to ensure that the benefits of genomic medicine are realized for the Science Consider the story of a family whose newborn was diagnosed with a rare metabolic disorder through genomic screening, years before symptoms would have appeared. Early intervention allowed for dietary modifications that prevented irreversible neurological damage. Stories like these are increasingly common as these programs expand. They underscore the human impact of scientific progress. As predicted in Destiny's Child No Longer, the era of universal newborn genomic screening is dawning. The UK and Florida are leading the way. They demonstrate both the promise and the responsibility that comes with rewriting genetic fate. Their experiences will inform global efforts. They will shape a future where every child's genetic destiny is not only known but can be changed for the better.
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Norfolk and Norwich Hospital joins 'world-leading' baby study
A hospital has begun testing newborn babies for genetic conditions as part of a "world-leading" Generation Study aims to test the entire DNA – or genome - of 100,000 babies across England to check for rare illnesses that can develop later in life with the hope of speeding up diagnosis and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) is one of about 30 NHS hospitals taking part in the involves midwives taking blood samples from umbilical cords shortly after birth and sending them to a laboratory to be examined. The test checks for disorders that develop in early childhood for which there are effective NHS said in some cases these diseases were curable, if caught midwife and principal investigator, Leanne Trenerry, said: "Ninety-nine per cent of women who take part will receive a letter or email telling them there is 'no condition suspected'."For the 1% of 'condition suspected' cases, families will be contacted by an appropriate NHS specialist team to provide further testing to confirm a diagnosis." Optional test At present, newborns are given a heelprick blood test that checks for nine serious conditions, including cystic part of this new study, led by Genomics England, blood samples will help diagnose many more disorders, such as haemophilia and spinal muscular NNUH said the optional test was open to all women over 16 who had a singleton pregnancy (not twins or triplets).Expectant parents would be informed about the study at their 20-week scan appointment, the hospital England said the plan was to collect evidence to determine whether genomic newborn screening should be offered to all children in company, which is government-owned, said blood samples and data would be securely kept for 16 years, and would only be accessed by approved healthcare researchers. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Revvity Expands Alliance with Genomics England to Drive Research into Newborn Genomic Sequencing in England
New agreement to support newborn health adds sequencing lab services to the existing extraction services collaboration WALTHAM, Mass., March 20, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Revvity, Inc. (NYSE: RVTY) today announced an agreement with Genomics England to further collaborate on the Generation Study. Under the new contract, Revvity will now also provide DNA sequencing services to help screen newborns for rare genetic conditions. This expanded relationship builds upon the previously disclosed agreement to perform DNA extraction services. Revvity will now be able to provide an integrated end-to-end solution with a localized lab facility, which will allow for accelerated extraction and sequencing services to advance the screening process for these rare conditions. The Generation Study, a research project spearheaded by Genomics England in partnership with the National Health Service, is a landmark national initiative aimed at screening up to 100,000 newborns for more than 200 rare genetic disorders. The findings will help inform future decisions on using whole genome sequencing (WGS) in newborn screening. Proactive genomic screening could help healthcare professionals identify risks for pediatric-onset conditions sooner, enabling earlier interventions and personalized care. "It is an honor to enhance our collaboration with Genomics England as we align to expand access to genomic sequencing in England. Our complete solution and localized lab facility help us deliver timely and reliable sequencing data in support of this critical program that strengthens newborn health," stated Dr. Madhuri Hegde, Revvity's senior vice president and chief scientific officer. "Revvity's expansive global laboratory network combined with our next-generation sequencing solutions and workflows for newborn screening uniquely positions us to lead this and similar initiatives, setting a standard for future programs." "This collaboration is an important step forward in our mission to generate evidence on the use of genomic sequencing in newborn screening. By working with Revvity as one of our sequencing partners for the Generation Study, we can integrate sequencing alongside extraction, streamlining the process, and generating results more efficiently, helping families get answers and access to care sooner," said Dr. Ellen Thomas, chief medical officer at Genomics England. To learn more about Revvity's newborn sequencing research solutions, please visit: About Revvity At Revvity, "impossible" is inspiration, and "can't be done" is a call to action. Revvity provides health science solutions, technologies, expertise, and services that deliver complete workflows from discovery to development, and diagnosis to cure. Revvity is revolutionizing what's possible in healthcare, with specialized focus areas in translational multi-omics technologies, biomarker identification, imaging, prediction, screening, detection and diagnosis, informatics and more. With 2024 revenue of more than $2.7 billion and approximately 11,000 employees, Revvity serves customers across pharmaceutical and biotech, diagnostic labs, academia and governments. It is part of the S&P 500 index and has customers in more than 160 countries. Stay updated by following our Newsroom, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. About Genomics England Genomics England is a global leader in enabling genomic medicine and research, established by the United Kingdom's Department of Health and Social Care, focused on creating a world where everyone benefits from genomic healthcare. Building on the 100,000 Genomes Project, it supports the NHS's world-first national whole genome sequencing service and runs the growing National Genomic Research Library, alongside delivering numerous major genomics initiatives including the Generation Study. By connecting research and clinical care at national scale, it enables immediate healthcare benefits and advances for the future. View source version on Contacts Investor Relations: Steve Revvity Media Relations: Chet Murray(781) Genomics England Media: media@ Sign in to access your portfolio
