UK health and social care secretary, Matt Hancock UK health and social care secretary, Matt Hancock has outlined the government's commitment to bolster the UK life sciences sector and build on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. During the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) annual conference last week, Hancock pledged £37 million for genomics projects and for data-driven initiatives delivered through the Genome UK Implementation Plan and the UK Functional Genomics Initiative, which was launched in September 2019. WHY IT MATTERS The pledge aims to make the UK a global leader in manufacturing for medicines, grow UK-based business and encourage investment. Through these investments, patients are set to benefit from better research, treatment, care and improved clinical decision-making.