The partnership aims to generate the largest long-read sequencing dataset in Southeast Asia, enhancing precision medicine
Expected to Contribute to Understanding Genetic Variations, Disease Insights, and Innovating Future Disease Prevention and Treatment Strategies
August 7, 2024 – Macrogen APAC, the first CAP-accredited service provider in Singapore for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), announced that it has entered into a partnership with PacBio, a global sequencing solutions developer, for Precision Health Research Singapore (PRECISE). This partnership aims to generate the largest long-read sequencing dataset in Southeast Asia, marking a significant advancement for precision medicine in Singapore.
As part of Singapore’s 10-year National Precision Medicine (NPM) programme, PRECISE is at the forefront of merging genomic data with clinical insights to enhance healthcare outcomes. Through this collaboration, Macrogen will leverage PacBio's Revio HiFi sequencing system to provide in-depth insights into genetic diversity, disease mechanisms, and clinical diagnostics.
Macrogen will utilize the Revio system to produce and analyze highly accurate, high-resolution long-read sequencing data. Long-read sequencing, which analyzes the genome in longer segments, enables the detection of complex variations that are difficult to capture with traditional methods. Macrogen plans to contribute to interpreting complex genetic regions and enhance the understanding of rare disease research and complex diseases like cancer, ultimately innovating in disease prevention and treatment.
PacBio's long-read sequencing provides comprehensive genomic coverage, enabling the detection of large structural variations and DNA methylation, providing a more complete picture of the genome.
"It is only natural for Macrogen to select PacBio’s sequencing solution for the success of the PRECISE," said Christian Henry, President and CEO of PacBio. "The project’s goal of generating 10,000 datasets requires the capacity to deliver complete and accurate genomes economically and at scale, and Revio offers differentiated solutions for large-scale, multi-thousand-sample, whole genome sequencing projects."
"Participating in the PRECISE project will solidify Macrogen’s position as a leader in precision medicine," Macrogen CEO Kim Chang-hoon said. "Our collaboration with PacBio will significantly advance genomic analysis and precision medicine in Singapore, fostering world-class research and development."