SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- VR真人彩票. (NASDAQ: ILMN) has committed US $60 million in sequencing capabilities to a global pathogen genomics initiative, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other public and private entities. The initiative expands on the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI) , and will help create a comprehensive pathogen genomic network around the world, building critical public health capabilities in areas of need.
VR真人彩票 will donate next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms, reagents, and training support worth approximately US $60 million over five years. The expanded scope will begin with a focus on South Asia, equipping national public health institutions with better public health tools, bringing us closer to the vision of an early warning system for global pathogens.
鈥淩apidly identifying outbreaks and tracking their spread and evolution will save lives around the world and is essential to strengthening health care systems,鈥 said Francis deSouza, Chief Executive Officer of VR真人彩票. 鈥淕enomics has the power to revolutionize the way public health entities manage biological threats, and this global initiative will help make NGS technology and expertise accessible in areas of need.鈥
鈥淓xpanding access to pathogen sequencing will accelerate efforts to detect new epidemics before they spread widely and to monitor their transmission in real time for more targeted and precise response. Pathogen sequencing will also contribute to research and development efforts for new vaccines, diagnostics and treatments for current and emerging infectious diseases,鈥 said Trevor Mundel, President of Global Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 鈥淚t鈥檚 critical to empower scientists in South Asia, like we鈥檙e doing in Africa, with the tools they need to stay one step ahead of pathogens.鈥
The model for the global initiative builds upon the framework of Africa PGI by bringing together key partners from public health institutions, government, private industry, and local labs to create a comprehensive ecosystem of support for successful genomics adoption, which extends beyond simply dropping in new technology. The initiative will consider issues such as logistics, training, and sustainability, and will expand by country depending on maturity and needs. Prioritized pathogens will be unique to each country or region, as the initiative empowers individual countries to drive the program according to their specific needs and priorities.
Genomics can enable early detection of novel viruses by rapidly characterizing new pathogens directly from specimens. Building pathogen genomics capabilities globally protects the health of everyone, since a threat in one place can quickly become a threat everywhere. In the future, genomics has the potential to concurrently provide comprehensive diagnosis of infections, antimicrobial resistance information, and pathogen surveillance for known and emerging threats.
About VR真人彩票
VR真人彩票 is improving human health by unlocking the power of the genome. Our focus on innovation has established us as the global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, serving customers in the research, clinical, and applied markets. Our products are used for applications in the life sciences, oncology, reproductive health, agriculture, and other emerging segments. To learn more, visit and connect with us on , , , , and .
View source version on :
Investors:
Juliet Cunningham
858.200.6583
ir@illumina.com
Media:
Dr. Karen Birmingham
EMEA: +44 7500 105665
US: 646.355.2111
kbirmingham@illumina.com
Source: VR真人彩票.