Singapore’s National Precision Medicine (NPM) Programme Engages Oxford Nanopore to Advance Understanding of the Genetics of Singapore’s Multi-Ethnic Population
05 August 2024 - 12:05PM
Business Wire
Singapore’s National Precision Medicine (NPM) programme will
sequence 10,000 genomes to improve understanding of genetic
architecture and diversity in Singapore’s multi-ethnic Asia
population through advanced, nanopore-based sequencing
technology
Oxford Nanopore Technologies (Oxford Nanopore) has announced a
landmark project with Singapore's National Precision Medicine (NPM)
programme, led by Precision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE),
aimed at developing a comprehensive structural variant catalogue
representing three major ethnic groups in Singapore including
Chinese, Malay and Indian ethnicities. These genetic variations
have demonstrated significance in helping clinician scientists and
researchers in understanding human genetic diversity and diseases.
This initiative underscores Oxford Nanopore’s commitment to
advancing genetic research and healthcare outcomes on a global
scale, particularly for ethnically diverse populations that are
typically underrepresented in genomic databases.
Oxford Nanopore’s portion of the project will focus on
sequencing 10,000 genomes representing Singapore’s diverse
population, including Malay, Indian, and Chinese communities
participating in the PRECISE-SG100K population cohort. This project
will use Oxford Nanopore’s fleet of high-output PromethION 48
sequencing devices to deliver detailed, comprehensive genomic data
to advance research and support precision healthcare. The project
started mid-2024 and will run up to 12 months.
Oxford Nanopore’s platform offers unparalleled scalability and
flexibility in DNA/RNA sequencing and is capable of characterising
both short and ultra-long native DNA/RNA fragments, including
detection of methylation, an important biomarker found in DNA,
without the need for additional steps and at speeds faster than
other platforms. This capability – which cannot be done with short
reads or traditional methods – is crucial for accurately
identifying a wide range of genetic variations that are essential
for understanding complex diseases and tailoring individualised
treatment plans.
Oxford Nanopore has made strategic investments in Singapore,
which it has positioned as a commercial hub for the Asia Pacific
region. The company recently expanded its laboratory facilities in
Singapore to support increased activities in training, knowledge
transfer, and the up-skilling of local technical staff. This
includes deploying sequencers within the Science Centre Singapore
and the Singapore Institute of Technology for use within high
school, undergraduate and adult education programmes.
Additionally, the company has access to a distribution facility
in Singapore through its expanded partnership with UPS Healthcare,
resulting in faster delivery of flow cells to Singapore and across
the Asia Pacific.
Gordon Sanghera, CEO of Oxford Nanopore, said:
"We are excited to collaborate with Singapore’s National
Precision Medicine (NPM) programme to create one of the most
extensive and inclusive reference genome datasets globally. This
collaboration not only enhances our commitment to precision
healthcare but also strategically positions Singapore as a pivotal
hub for genomics in the Asia Pacific, fostering significant
advancements in medical research and healthcare outcomes."
There are also other partners in this project, including
NovogeneAIT, that demonstrate a strong collaborative effort to
leverage innovative technology in genomics.
Oxford Nanopore has been collaborating with the scientific teams
to demonstrate that complete genomic data can be generated with
Oxford Nanopore sequencing devices, resulting in groundbreaking
"telomere to telomere" datasets and in preparation for commencing
the larger sequencing programme.
About Oxford Nanopore Technologies
Oxford Nanopore Technologies’ goal is to bring the widest
benefits to society through enabling the analysis of anything, by
anyone, anywhere. The company has developed a new generation of
nanopore-based sensing technology for real-time, high-performance,
accessible and scalable analysis of DNA and RNA. The technology is
used in more than 120 countries to understand the biology of humans
and diseases such as cancer, plants, animals, bacteria, viruses,
and whole environments. Oxford Nanopore Technologies products are
intended for molecular biology applications and are not intended
for diagnostic purposes. For more, visit:
https://nanoporetech.com/
About Precision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE)
Precision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE) is the central
entity set up to coordinate a whole of Singapore effort to
implement Phase II of Singapore’s three-phase National Precision
Medicine (NPM) programme.
NPM Phase II aims to transform healthcare in Singapore and
improve patient outcomes through new insights into the Asian genome
and data-driven healthcare solutions. In NPM Phase II, PRECISE will
collaborate with Singapore research and clinical partners,
including the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR),
Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, National Healthcare Group,
National University Health System, National University of
Singapore, and SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre to study
the genetic makeup of 100,000 healthy Singaporeans and specific
patient cohorts. The genetic data will be integrated with detailed
lifestyle, environmental, and clinical data to yield rich insights
into factors that contribute to Asian diseases and conditions.
Additionally, NPM Phase II will enhance the breadth and depth of
the Precision Medicine-related industry by attracting and anchoring
overseas companies in Singapore, while yielding new opportunities
for home-grown companies. To enhance and accelerate the precision
medicine sector, PRECISE works in close collaboration with A*STAR,
the Biomedical Sciences Industry Partnership Office, and the
Economic Development Board to catalyse the next phase of growth for
Singapore’s healthcare and the biomedical technology
industries.
PRECISE is a programme of the Consortium for Clinical Research
and Innovation, Singapore (CRIS). PRECISE is supported by the
National Research Foundation, Singapore (NRF) under the RIE2020
White Space (MOH-000588 and MOH-001264) and administered by the
Singapore Ministry of Health through the National Medical Research
Council (NMRC) Office, MOH Holdings Pte Ltd
For more information, visit www.npm.sg
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