Oxford Nanopore announces participation in the PROGRESS study, with Yemaachi Biotech

A consortium of Yemaachi Biotech, Pediatric Oncology Units at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Greater Accra Regional Hospital, and Newcastle University, have come together with Oxford Nanopore to support improved outcomes for childhood leukaemias in Ghana.

Oxford Nanopore Technologies (Oxford Nanopore), the company delivering a new generation of molecular sensing technology based on nanopores, today announced its participation in the PROGRESS study with Yemaachi Biotech, Ghanaian paediatric oncology teams, and renowned institutions like Newcastle University, UK. This study aims to leverage world-class expertise and technology to address the pressing issue of childhood cancer in Africa, with a view to setting a new standard for future diagnosis and treatment in resource-limited settings.

This initiative focuses on the PROGRESS Study, which aims to improve survival rates for childhood cancers in low- and middle-income countries where survival rates can be lower than 30%, compared to over 80% in high-income countries.ⁱ This project, funded in part by LifeArc, has the potential to play a pivotal role in contributing towards the World Health Organization's goal of a 60% survival rate by 2030 for all children with cancer globally.

The PROGRESS study aims to pilot the use of nanopore sequencing for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection in paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in Ghana. The study may show how Oxford Nanopore's platform, capable of accurately detecting clinically actionable genetic variants, is crucial for effective risk stratification and potential treatment changes. Approaches developed by the Ryan lab at Newcastle University will be utilised, marking an exciting leap-frog opportunity, as this is not yet standard of care in the US or Europe.

'Working with Yemaachi Biotech and leading institutions like Newcastle University, UK, marks a significant step forward in our mission to address global health disparities through innovative genomic solutions,' said Gordon Sanghera, CEO of Oxford Nanopore Technologies. 'By integrating our cutting-edge sequencing technology into the PROGRESS Study, this is not only enhancing capabilities in resource-limited settings but also paving the way for widespread improvements in childhood cancer treatment across Africa. This partnership exemplifies the transformative potential of genomic technology to deliver real-world impact and improve healthcare outcomes for all.'

This study, initiated by Yemaachi Biotech and the paediatric oncology unit at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and supported by Oxford Nanopore's cutting-edge technology, is designed as a proof-of-concept for validation and broader adoption across Africa. Yemaachi Biotech's network of clinical partners, currently spanning nine African countries, will facilitate the project's expansion.

'Yemaachi Biotech is committed to ensuring that African cancer patients are no longer an afterthought. We are committed to developing cutting-edge solutions to African health challenges, by advancing cutting edge science that is relevant both in Africa and around the world.' said Yaw Bediako, CEO of Yemaachi Biotech. 'This partnership with Oxford Nanopore serves as evidence, that Africa has an important contribution to make towards global biomedical innovation.'

This project will also mark the first time that sequencing for childhood leukaemias has been done in Ghana. Currently, a small proportion of samples are sent abroad for flow cytometry and basic cytogenetics, based on a patient’s ability to pay. The project will enable clinical research teams to access genomic insights for all patients, significantly increasing understanding of the genetic basis of paediatric leukaemias among African children. To date, more than 100 children have been recruited into the PROGRESS study.

'PROGRESS is a game changer for paediatric oncology in Ghana and potentially the rest of Africa. Through this work with Yemaachi and Oxford Nanopore, we are progressing at pace to incorporate cutting edge technology into clinical care and demonstrating that high quality collaborative research is possible in LMIC.' – Dr. Cathy Segbefia, Paediatric Haematologist Oncologist and Principal Investigator of PROGRESS.

The future integration of Oxford Nanopore's adaptive sampling whole genome sequencing (AS-WGS) into the PROGRESS study will allow for the precise detection of clinically actionable genetic variants. This study could pave the way to significantly improving the accuracy of disease characterisation, risk stratification, and treatment monitoring and adaptation, which are currently limited in Ghana.

'I am thrilled to be involved in this exciting project and hope that we can make a difference to the management, treatment and survival of childhood cancer patients in Ghana'. Dr Sarra Ryan, Newcastle University.

Traditional genetic testing methods are cumbersome and expensive, requiring multiple tests to detect various genetic abnormalities. Oxford Nanopore's technology offers a streamlined solution by enabling the detection of a wide range of clinically relevant genetic abnormalities in a single test, reducing both time and cost. There is also potential to scale across the nanopore platform as this research expands.