I joined the 100,000 Genomes Project to prevent a heart attack

The benefits of the project go far beyond genetic testing, it could enable new medical discoveries and diagnoses

As chief executive of the British Heart Foundation (BHF), talking publicly about cardiovascular research and its life-saving effects is something I'm used to. But I never expected to find myself sitting on the other side of the bench, participating in a life-changing study.

I have been invited to participate in the 100,000 Genomes Project, a unique and large-scale project to sequence the full genetic code of 70,000 people with rare genetic diseases.