The Emerging Population Genomics Revolution
Population genomics programs are expanding globally as nations seek to understand their populations' genetic variations. While early studies like UK Biobank were largely Eurocentric, new initiatives are emerging worldwide to address genetic diversity gaps. Countries including Thailand, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Australia, Singapore, Turkey, and Nigeria are launching sequencing programs to gain population-specific insights and develop their genomics infrastructure.
These programs aim to drive precision medicine and economic development by creating biotech clusters, generating jobs, and attracting international talent and investment. Pharmaceutical companies are particularly interested as genomically-informed drugs are reportedly more likely to reach the market and less expensive to develop.
I programmi di genomica delle popolazioni stanno esplodendo a livello globale, poiché le nazioni cercano di comprendere le variazioni genetiche delle loro popolazioni. Mentre i primi studi, come il UK Biobank, erano prevalentemente eurocentrici, emergono nuove iniziative in tutto il mondo per affrontare le lacune nella diversità genetica. Paesi come Thailandia, Arabia Saudita, UAE, Australia, Singapore, Turchia e Nigeria stanno lanciando programmi di sequenziamento per ottenere informazioni specifiche sulla popolazione e sviluppare la loro infrastruttura genomica.
Questi programmi mirano a promuovere la medicina di precisione e lo sviluppo economico creando cluster biotecnologici, generando posti di lavoro e attirando talenti e investimenti internazionali. Le aziende farmaceutiche sono particolarmente interessate, poiché si dice che i farmaci informati dalla genomica abbiano maggiori probabilità di arrivare sul mercato e siano meno costosi da sviluppare.
Los programas de genómica de poblaciones están creciendo a nivel global a medida que las naciones buscan comprender las variaciones genéticas de sus poblaciones. Mientras que los primeros estudios, como el UK Biobank, eran en gran parte eurocéntricos, están surgiendo nuevas iniciativas en todo el mundo para abordar las brechas en la diversidad genética. Países como Tailandia, Arabia Saudita, EAU, Australia, Singapur, Turquía y Nigeria están lanzando programas de secuenciación para obtener conocimientos específicos de la población y desarrollar su infraestructura genómica.
Estos programas tienen como objetivo impulsar la medicina de precisión y el desarrollo económico a través de la creación de clústeres biotecnológicos, la generación de empleo y la atracción de talento e inversión internacional. Las compañías farmacéuticas están particularmente interesadas, ya que los medicamentos informados genómicamente tienen más probabilidades de llegar al mercado y son menos costosos de desarrollar.
인구 유전체학 프로그램은 국가들이 인구의 유전적 변이를 이해하기 위해 전 세계적으로 확장되고 있습니다. 초기 연구처럼 UK 바이오뱅크는 주로 유럽 중심적이었지만, 이제 전 세계에서 유전적 다양성의 격차를 해결하기 위한 새로운 이니셔티브가 나오고 있습니다. 태국, 사우디아라비아, UAE, 호주, 싱가포르, 터키, 그리고 나이지리아와 같은 국가들은 특정 인구에 대한 통찰력을 얻고 유전체 인프라를 개발하기 위해 시퀀싱 프로그램을 시작하고 있습니다.
이 프로그램들은 정밀 의학과 경제 발전을 촉진하는 것을 목표로 하며, 바이오 기술 클러스터를 형성하고, 일자리를 창출하며, 국제적 인재와 투자를 유치하고자 합니다. 제약 회사들은 유전자 정보를 바탕으로 한 약물이 시장에 도달할 가능성이 더 높고 개발 비용이 덜 드는 것으로 알려져 있어 특히 관심을 보이고 있습니다.
Les programmes de génomique des populations s'étendent à l'échelle mondiale alors que les nations cherchent à comprendre les variations génétiques de leurs populations. Alors que les premières études comme le UK Biobank étaient largement eurocentriques, de nouvelles initiatives émergent dans le monde entier pour combler les lacunes en diversité génétique. Des pays tels que la Thaïlande, l'Arabie Saoudite, les Émirats Arabes Unis, l'Australie, Singapour, la Turquie et le Nigeria lancent des programmes de séquençage pour obtenir des informations spécifiques à la population et développer leur infrastructure génomique.
Ces programmes visent à promouvoir la médecine de précision et le développement économique en créant des pôles biotechnologiques, en générant des emplois et en attirant des talents internationaux et des investissements. Les entreprises pharmaceutiques sont particulièrement intéressées, car les médicaments basés sur des informations génomiques ont apparemment plus de chances d'atteindre le marché et coûtent moins cher à développer.
Bevölkerungsgenomik Programme entwickeln sich weltweit, da Nationen versuchen, die genetischen Variationen ihrer Populationen zu verstehen. Während frühe Studien wie das UK Biobank weitgehend europäisch geprägt waren, entstehen nun weltweit neue Initiativen, um die Lücken in der genetischen Vielfalt zu schließen. Länder wie Thailand, Saudi-Arabien, die VAE, Australien, Singapur, die Türkei und Nigeria starten Sequenzierungsprogramme, um bevölkerungsspezifische Erkenntnisse zu gewinnen und ihre genomischen Infrastrukturen auszubauen.
Diese Programme zielen darauf ab, Präzisionsmedizin und wirtschaftliche Entwicklung voranzutreiben, indem sie Biotech-Cluster schaffen, Arbeitsplätze generieren und internationale Talente und Investitionen anziehen. Pharmaunternehmen sind besonders interessiert, da genetisch informierte Medikamente angeblich eine größere Wahrscheinlichkeit haben, auf den Markt zu kommen, und weniger kostspielig in der Entwicklung sind.
- Growing global expansion of population genomics programs creates new market opportunities
- Programs drive creation of biotech clusters and economic development
- Increased pharmaceutical industry interest due to better drug development prospects
- Creation of new markets in emerging economies
- Infrastructure challenges in emerging markets may slow implementation
- Significant investment required for program development and infrastructure
- Workforce recruitment and retention difficulties in developing markets
Insights
This article, while informative about Illumina's role in population genomics, does not contain market-moving information. The content discusses ongoing industry trends and Illumina's general market positioning in population genomics initiatives, but lacks specific financial figures, deals, or business developments that would immediately impact investor decisions.
The discussion of emerging markets and potential opportunities in various countries highlights Illumina's long-term strategic positioning, but presents no concrete business developments or financial metrics. While the company's involvement in global genomics projects could lead to future revenue streams, the article focuses on general industry development rather than specific, actionable business news.
Around the world, countries are racing to develop nationwide sequencing programs to address their specific health needs
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 28, 2024 / Illumina
Originally published on Illumina News Center
The Human Genome Project described the first (almost) complete reference genome, but it didn't say much about human variation. For that, scientists had to conduct massive population genomics (pop gen) studies, sequencing millions of people to better understand the genetic distinctions, in specific populations, that confer good health or disease. The UK Biobank, deCODE, and the Million Veterans Program were early examples.
These programs have produced incredibly useful genomic data, but they have also left significant gaps. In many cases, pop gen studies have been heavily Eurocentric, missing data that could help scientists, clinicians, and public health officials understand the genomic variations that affect people of African, South American, or Asian descent.
"The vast majority of genomic data that scientists have collected is from people of European descent," says Helen Speirs, Illumina's leader for Large National Genomics Initiatives in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia (AMEA). "That means we can't make a lot of calls about how genomic variants in people with non-European ancestry cause disease or how to develop drugs that will be most effective for them."
To help close these gaps, dozens of nations have begun pop gen programs. In time, these efforts will help them gather nuanced molecular information to drive better care for their people- precision genomics.
"These national initiatives all want to utilize genomics in health care in some form," says Graeme Bethel, Illumina's head of Strategic Growth for AMEA. "But first, they must sequence thousands of research genomes to get a better understanding of their population and develop the infrastructure needed to scale genomics into health care."
Building a pop gen program from the ground up
Having supported the UK Biobank and other programs from their earliest days, Illumina has a unique position in the pop gen ecosystem. Quite often, company experts step in as consultants to help these long and complex projects get off the ground.
"We try to engage very early in these projects to help them avoid the mistakes of the past," Bethel says. "There are government, institutional, scientific, and clinical people involved, and they all want to understand how these complicated collaborations are going to work."
While many emerging nations want to initiate pop gen projects, they may lack the molecular biology infrastructure to build robust efforts. Underdeveloped sequencing programs and cold storage capabilities are just two potential barriers.
"They understand they have to move these projects forward, or they're going to fall further behind," says Speirs, "but the challenges can be huge. Even the basics of recruiting and maintaining a workforce can be quite difficult."
Some countries have overcome these problems by shipping samples abroad for sequencing. The new push is to maintain data ownership to ensure that the people providing their DNA receive the full benefits of sequencing.
Clinical and economic payoffs
In addition to producing scientific and clinical knowledge, these efforts can be engines for economic development. Japan's ToMMo project grew out of recovery efforts following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami near Fukushima.
Worldwide, the number of pop gen projects is expanding rapidly, counting efforts in Thailand, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Singapore, Turkey, Nigeria, and other nations. In addition to gaining the unique insights only sequencing can provide, these countries hope to recruit investors and develop homegrown genomics industries.
These emerging biotech clusters generate well-paying jobs and attract talent from around the world. In some cases, scientists who emigrate to the US, UK, or other developed nations return to their home countries as the new industry creates an economic center of gravity.
Pharma companies and venture capitalists are also showing interest. Sequencing more diverse populations could uncover better drug targets (and produce better targeted drugs), which could benefit all populations.
"I was recently speaking to a private consortium in India that wants to invest in biobanks and generate sequencing and phenotypic data to really understand the Indian population," Bethel says. "Companies know that genomically informed drugs are less expensive to develop and more than twice as likely to get to market. It's a powerful incentive."
Photo © Alejandro Moreno de Carlos
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