So with all of the focus on the national surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and the various variants that are circulating it can be easy to overlook the fact that the genome data that we generate is being used for a lot of other purposes. 1/n

In Wales this includes: outbreak response/tracking, checking mutations that might affect diagnostic PCR tests, generating information on the spread of the virus and its transmission in different parts of the country to support government 2/n

as well as looking for and tracking clusters that are increasing in size or in places where there may be a need for a follow up investigation. 3/n

Within @PublicHealthW @WalesMicrobiol our COVID work is built on the same platform that underpins our other clinical pathogen genomics services (which have continued to run during the pandemic) for HIV resistance typing, TB/NTM diagnostics/surveillance, Influenza Surveillance 4/n

and, accredited and launched this summer/autumn, a service to support typing and outbreak response for C. diff (a major hospital-associated pathogen). 5/n

I am extremely proud of what our team has achieved this year - and while the focus may be on VOC at the moment, and we have sequenced over 17,000 Welsh SARS-CoV-2 genomes since March - that work is just the tip of a much bigger iceberg. 6/n

Our services have been working throughout the pandemic and have important impacts on the patients and public of Wales. Beyond what we have been able to find and do I think the really exceptional thing is keeping all of these various services going through the pandemic. 7/n

The pandemic is demonstrating in a very public way how important a tool genomics can be if properly used to combat infectious disease. I don’t think we will have another pandemic where genomics isn’t a global go to tool of choice for surveillance from the start. 8/n

More broadly, over the coming years hopefully we will see the use and adoption of pathogen genomics accelerate in healthcare. The pandemic is very much a marathon and not a sprint - and it has been exceptionally hard for everyone. 9/n

But despite many tired people, that we are where we are from a genomics perspective in Wales is very much a testament to our outstanding team, and a demonstration of the value and feasibility of providing clinical pathogen genomics services at a large scale. 10/n

Has been a terrible year in many ways, but at the same time the advances in science, the sheer collective scientific endeavour and the practical application of so much research to fight the pandemic has been inspirational - and will provide benefits for years to come. 11/n

I am so proud of our team @PublicHealthW @WalesMicrobiol @cardiffuni @MRCClimb and so grateful for our many wonderful collaborators @CovidGenomicsUK and supporters. I am also cautiously hopeful for the coming year. So with that I will wish you all a happy, safe Christmas. 12/12