Singapore’s National Precision Medicine (NPM) programme engages Oxford Nanopore to advance understanding of the genetics of Singapore’s multi-ethnic population
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 ground breaking "telomere to telomere" datasets and in preparation for commencing the larger sequencing programme.