SCG Cell Therapy Partners with A*STAR BTI and NATi to Advance RNA-Based Therapeutics

Korea's National Bio Big Data Project: Advancing Precision Medicine with Macrogen and Illumina

GST Exemption Announced for Cancer Treatment Gene Therapy

AIIMS Develops Affordable CAR-T Cell Therapy for Multiple Myeloma

Sangamo Therapeutics and Astellas Collaborate on Innovative Gene Therapy for Neurological Diseases

FDA Clears IND for Arbor Biotechnologies’ ABO-101 Gene Editing Therapeutic for Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 1

Fortis Healthcare Acquires Stake in Agilus Diagnostics

FDA Approves BRAFTOVI® Combination Regimen as First-Line Treatment for BRAF V600E-Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

The Role of Big Data in Precision Medicine

Caris Life Sciences Celebrates 1,000+ Precision Medicine Studies, Advancing Cancer Research and Patient Outcomes

OncoHelix and Qualisure Diagnostics Partner to Bring Thyroid GuidePx® Test to Canadian Patients

Gates Foundation Invests $50 Million in Tessera Therapeutics to Advance Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease

FDA Approves Ensartinib (Ensacove) as First-Line Treatment for ALK-Positive NSCLC

Guardant Health and Boehringer Ingelheim Collaborate to Advance Liquid Biopsy CDx for HER2-Targeted Therapy in NSCLC

Cartherics Receives $300K G-Rex Grant to Advance Cancer Cell Therapy Manufacturing

Home
/
update
/
details

Korea's National Bio Big Data Project: Advancing Precision Medicine with Macrogen and Illumina

NextEdge Admin

23 Dec 2024

2 min 48 sec

Illumina,Bio Big Data Project,Population genomic

Macrogen, a global precision medicine leader, and Illumina Inc. , a global DNA sequencing pioneer, announced their collaboration in supporting Korea’s National Bio Big Data Project. This initiative will sequence and analyze 145,952 Korean genomes, building on a pilot phase since 2020, during which 20,000 genomes, including 10,000 from individuals with rare diseases, were studied. The project aims to establish a genomic reference for 770,000 Koreans by 2028 and one million by 2032, advancing precision medicine as standard care.

“Participating in this transformative project underscores our commitment to enhancing public health in Korea,” said Changhoon Kim, CEO of Macrogen. The project collects and analyzes genomic, clinical, and life-record data from the population, paving the way for precision medicine tailored to Koreans.

Robert McBride, General Manager of Illumina Korea, highlighted the significance of the initiative: “Illumina is honored to contribute to this landmark project, leveraging our global expertise from other population genomics programs to benefit Korea's healthcare ecosystem.”

Population genomic studies worldwide, including in the UK, Japan, and Qatar, are expanding rapidly. However, global datasets predominantly represent European populations, limiting their applicability to diverse groups. “This inequity highlights the critical need for genomic research focused on other populations,” McBride emphasized.

Genomic variation between populations can significantly influence disease susceptibility and treatment responses. Projects like Korea's enhance healthcare equity by providing population-specific insights, improving drug development, and optimizing treatments.

Integrating genomics with advanced technologies like AI and machine learning enables better care, economic growth, and reduced healthcare costs. “Precision medicine benefits everyone—from patients to pharmaceutical companies and governments—by tailoring treatments, reducing development costs, and fostering healthier populations,” added Kim.

This collaboration represents a pivotal step toward realizing the transformative potential of precision medicine.