# BGI Genomics joins HGP2 Rare Disease Alliance to Close Rare Disease Care Gap in Asia-Pacific

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/bgi-genomics-joins-hgp2-rare-disease-alliance-to-close-rare-disease-care-gap-in-asia-pacific
- Published: 2026-05-12T15:25:00+07:00
- Author: PR Newswire

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The HGP2 Rare Disease Alliance
of the Asia-Pacific Region ([HGP2 RaDiAnce–APAC](https://en.genomics.cn/APAC/index.aspx))
was officially launched in Kuala Lumpur on May 10.

YBhg. Datuk Dr. Nor Fariza Binti Ngah, Deputy Director-General of Health (Research
and Technical Support) at the Ministry of Health of Malaysia, and Hou Yong, General
Manager of BGI Genomics, joined leading experts to discuss urgent priorities in 
rare disease diagnosis, genomics, and public health response.

The Alliance unites members from 10 countries to address the diagnostic gap under
the framework of the [Human Genome Project II (HGP2)](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41422-024-01026-y).
A unified joint declaration was established for rare disease prevention and genomic
medicine in Asia-Pacific. The declaration covers five key areas: ethics, accessibility,
collaboration, acceleration, and public response.

YBhg. Datuk Dr. Nor Fariza Binti Ngah said, "Precision health is not a future ambition,
but a present responsibility. In Malaysia, we are committed to moving from reactive
care to predictive, preventive, and more personalized healthcare by integrating 
genomics, artificial intelligence, advanced technology, and strong policy frameworks
into our health system."

Dr. Hou Yong, General Manager of BGI Genomics said, "HGP2 Radiance-APAC will advance
the standardization, intelligent transformation, and equitable accessibility of 
rare disease diagnosis and treatment across the Asia-Pacific region, ensuring that
no life is limited by disease and no distance stands in the way of compassion.

Thong Meow Keong, professor at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman and visiting consultant
clinical geneticist at University Malaya Medical Centre, said that the Asia-Pacific
region is currently advancing the HGP2, focusing on the development of rare disease
diagnosis, genetic technology, and precision public health. He expected that genetic
technology and artificial intelligence will drive the transformation of healthcare
systems in the field of rare diseases.

Dr. Thanyachai Sura, Professor of Medicine in the Medical Genetics and Genomics 
Unit at Ramathibodi Hospital of Mahidol University, stated, "Thailand is entering
the genomic era, and these technologies can improve outcomes and shorten the time
to diagnosis, especially for rare diseases. As a lower- to middle-income country,
we must adopt them step by step, with careful attention to cost-effectiveness, clinical
need, and patient access. Through collaboration and shared learning, we can build
a practical and sustainable genomic approach for Thailand and for countries with
similar healthcare contexts."

Dr. Zilfalil Bin Alwi, Professor of Medical Genetics and Senior Consultant Pediatrician
and Clinical Geneticist at Universiti Sains Malaysia, said, "We should not neglect
rare diseases simply because they are ‘rare’ or require more resources to manage.
The establishment of HGP2 RaDiAnce-APAC is both timely and important. It provides
a valuable platform for low- and middle-income countries in the region to connect,
collaborate, and address rare disease issues together."

Dr. Ludi Dhyani Rahmartani, Pediatric Specialist at Universitas Indonesia and RSUPN
Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, said, "Genomics and AI are the future. If we can
collaborate with each country, as well as with organizations that provide genomic
diagnostics across Southeast Asia, we can raise our standards, grow together as 
a team, and help many people."

Dr. Muhammad Jawad Hassan, Medical Geneticist at Shifa International Hospital and
Professor of Biosciences at Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, said, "In the post-
genomic era, clinicians and medical geneticists must go beyond diagnosis to integrate
genomics, data, and multidisciplinary care. For countries like Pakistan, building
local genomic resources and strengthening clinical capacity are essential to achieving
earlier diagnoses, better treatment decisions, and improved prevention of genetic
disease."

As a key participant in the alliance, BGI Genomics showcased an integrated technical
solution spanning precision detection, intelligent analysis, and localized talent
training to deliver localized support for rare disease diagnosis across the Asia-
Pacific region.

BGI Genomics leverages high-throughput sequencing (HTS) combined with long-read 
complementarity for high-precision, full-coverage rare disease diagnosis. The company
is currently establishing a national-level rare disease diagnosis center with the
Thai Ministry of Public Health, improving access across Southeast Asia through equipment
deployment and technology transfer.

Its AI-powered platform, iGeneT pro, enables automates variant interpretation, quality
control, ACMG classification, and reporting. It reduces tasks from years to minutes
while minimizing human error.

The Interpretation of Genetic Diseases Training Workshop represents a major step
forward in international genomics education. Through this initiative, BGI Genomics
helps build regional expertise in genetic analysis and clinical interpretation, 
fostering more localized solutions for rare disease diagnosis.

The alliance will accelerate the clinical translation of genomic technologies, making
timely, accurate, and affordable care for rare disease patients. BGI Genomics remains
committed to leveraging its technological leadership to strengthen regional public
health and deliver life-changing diagnostic accuracy to rare disease patients across
the Asia-Pacific.

About BGI Genomics

[BGI Genomics](https://www.bgi.com/global/company/about-bgi), headquartered in Shenzhen,
China, is the world’s leading integrated solutions provider of precision medicine.
Its services cover more than 100 countries and regions and involve more than 2,300
medical institutions. In July 2017, as a subsidiary of BGI Group, BGI Genomics (
300676.SZ) officially began trading on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

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**Read the original article :** [BGI Genomics joins HGP2 Rare Disease Alliance to Close Rare Disease Care Gap in Asia-Pacific ](http://www.prnasia.com/story/archive/4957228_AE57228_0?rand=184833)
