This expansion follows a pilot study led by Professor Laurent Servais from the University of Oxford’s Department of Paediatrics. Former Little Mix singer and SMA campaigner Jesy Nelson expressed her joy at the announcement, saying: “Today is a day of hope". The pilot introduced the first routine newborn screening for SMA across four Thames Valley hospital trusts, including Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The announcement comes after a £4 million investment in the University of Oxford-led SENS study (Service Evaluation for Newborn Screening for SMA). The study will assess the feasibility, clinical effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of including SMA screening in the Newborn Blood Spot Screening Programme.