Oxford Nanopore Technologies has unveiled a landmark collaboration with Singapore’s National Precision Medicine (NPM) programme, spearheaded by Precision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE). This project aims to develop an extensive structural variant catalogue representing three major ethnic groups in Singapore: Chinese, Malay, and Indian. These genetic variations are crucial for clinician-scientists and researchers to better understand human genetic diversity and diseases. This initiative highlights Oxford Nanopore’s dedication to enhancing genetic research and healthcare outcomes globally, particularly for ethnically diverse populations that are often 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 in mid-2024 and will run for up to 12 months.
Oxford Nanopore’s platform provides unmatched scalability and flexibility in DNA/RNA sequencing, capable of characterising both short and ultra-long native DNA/RNA fragments. It can also detect methylation, a key biomarker in DNA, without additional steps and at speeds surpassing other platforms. This unique capability, unattainable with short reads or traditional methods, is vital for accurately identifying a wide range of genetic variations, crucial for understanding complex diseases and developing personalized treatment plans.
Oxford Nanopore has strategically invested in Singapore, establishing it as a commercial hub for the Asia Pacific region. The company recently expanded its laboratory facilities in Singapore to support enhanced training, knowledge transfer, and the up-skilling of local technical staff. This expansion includes deploying sequencers at the Science Centre Singapore and the Singapore Institute of Technology for use in high school, undergraduate, and adult education programs.
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”.
This project also involves other partners, such as NovogeneAIT, showcasing a robust collaborative effort to leverage innovative genomic technology. Oxford Nanopore has been working with scientific teams to demonstrate that complete genomic data can be generated using its sequencing devices, producing groundbreaking “telomere to telomere” datasets and preparing for the launch of a larger sequencing programme.
