Victorian Clinical Genetics Services
Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS) is a specialist prenatal, childhood and adult genetics service.
VCGS is an Australian not-for-profit subsidiary of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), and one of the largest contributors driving genetic healthcare, research and policy in the country.
VCGS marked its 30th anniversary in 2018 and acknowledges our fantastic donors, funders, supporters and collaborators over this time, including the global genetics community, and the Australian Federal and Victorian State governments.
Located on-site at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Melbourne, VCGS provides an integrated genetic consultation, counselling, testing and diagnostic service for children, adults, families, and prospective parents. This unique service includes the ability to draw on specific expert knowledge from Melbourne Children’s campus partners RCH and The University of Melbourne, providing individuals and families with accessible and high-quality healthcare.
VCGS aims to provide a human-centred service. This approach was inspired by VCGS Co-Founder Professor David Danks, hailed as a pioneer of clinical genetics and genetic research in Australia. David, along with Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, established the original Murdoch Institute in 1986. Together, they championed the importance of clinical genetics and genetics research to improve the health and wellbeing of children all over the world.
VCGS works closely with a wide range of support groups and health professionals, including general practitioners and specialists, to support them with the diagnosis and care of their patients, and to understand often rare and complex conditions. Clinical geneticists and genetic counsellors work in consultation with medical scientists and clinical bioinformaticians to provide the most accurate interpretation of genetic data. Its reputation for reliability, quality and exemplary service is the reason VCGS is valued and trusted by health professionals in Australia and overseas.
The VCGS interdisciplinary team provides global scientific leadership, and specialist clinical and laboratory training opportunities, as well as playing a pivotal role in developing and promoting translational research to enhance health outcomes and healthcare choices. VCGS also work with Government to develop and implement public health policies, strategies and programs — and with a continuous stream of academic publications produced each year, VCGS is recognised for our high-quality research, international collaborations, and commitment to improving genetic and genomic healthcare practices and technology.
As a pioneering not-for-profit organisation, all proceeds go back into translational medical research so that the team can continue to develop innovative solutions to complex genetic health challenges.
VCGS mission
VCGS is the pioneering genetic services arm of Murdoch Children's and aims to provide and continually improve clinical care, support, genetic screening and diagnostic testing for children, adults and families who are at risk of or living with a genetic condition.
VCGS aims to do this by investing in new genetic and genomic testing, expanding our clinical and laboratory services, and raising broader community understanding by improving access to information and to the services that we provide; for both practitioners and patients across the healthcare spectrum in Australia and internationally.
At its core, VCGS aims to provide a human-centred genetic service that puts people at the heart of everything they do.