Asia researchers are playing an outsized role in genomics
17-May-17, The Diplomat
As Asia develops, many countries in the region are gaining the skills and capital to play a growing role in the ongoing genomics revolution. They could eventually challenge Western leadership in the field.
%20Wikimedia%20Commons_Scotted%20400.jpg "Asia researchers are playing an outsized role in genomics (c) Wikimedia Commons Scotted 400")
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Scotted 400
Recent advances in genomics are delivering amazing new understandings of the code of life, which allows us to screen for previously hidden disease risks and develop personalized treatments that can help us live longer, healthier lives (something known as “precision medicine”).
Asian countries hope to unlock economic opportunities in this fast-growing field. Many also want to make sure that the unique genetic attributes of Asian peoples are better understood.
- China is taking a leading role - its government recently launched a major Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI) that could amount to as much as USD9 bn in spending over the next 15 years.
- Japan’s Softbank recently led a USD360 mn investment in Guardant Health, a company working on novel methods for diagnosing cancer based on blood samples.
- Singapore is another hotspot - with an innovation ecosystem that’s attracted companies like Human Longevity Inc, a genomics-driven healthcare company that offers high-end health screening services.