MGI Tech, based in China, has announced that the National Genome Project in Indonesia has selected MGI technology as one of the technology providers for the first phase of its effort towards establishing an accountable, accurate, and credible population database of 10,000 whole genomes.

Genomics science has been identified as a key part of health technology development under the six-pillar healthcare transformation strategy announced by Indonesia's Ministry of Health (MOH) earlier this year amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the Biomedical & Genome Science Initiative for Precision Medicine (BGSi) was established to lead the implementation of precision medicine through the use of genetic technology.

Under BGSi, the first Indonesian National Genome Project will be overseen by the MOH and implemented at Rumah Sakit Cipto Mangunkusumo (RSCM), the nation's largest health and education centre as well as home to a leading molecular laboratory known for its quality, technology, and resources.

MGI, with the help of its strategic local partner PT Bakti Energi Abadi, will create a total workflow based on ultra-high-throughput genetic sequencer DNBSEQ-T7RS, the MGISP-960RS and MGISP-NE384RS automation systems, and ZTRON LITE data platform.

Regarded as a scientific breakthrough and the first of its kind in Indonesia, the project targets to collect biological samples and curate the unique genome data of 10,000 Indonesians in the next two years in order to develop insights into and map variants from the local population with pre-determined priority diseases. The results will contribute to the research and development of treatment in six main disease categories: cancer, infectious diseases, brain and neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic diseases, genetic disorders, and ageing.