BGI Health Forms Partnership to Serve MENA Region

BGI-Health, a subsidiary sequencing application unit of BGI, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sidra Medical and Research Centre to bring genomics technology and population studies to Middle Eastern and North African countries (MENA).

The partnership provides for direct engagement and coordination between BGI Health and Sidra on genomics, research and development. Collaboration will focus on reproductive health, new born screening, autism, hereditary cancer, monogenic disorders, and exome sequence-based personalised medical healthcare. Additionally, BGI Health will provide genetic testing to meet the demands of Sidra and the MENA region, namely, pre-marital, pre-conception, pre-implantation, pre-natal and pre-school testing for a large number of genes relevant to disease. BGI Health will be the first organisation to offer clinically genetic testing by NGS technology in Qatar.

Dr. Jingxiang Li, Chief Executive Officer of BGI Asia-Pacific said: “We’re delighted to embark on this partnership with Sidra, and to jointly establish a genomic center of excellence with emphasis on the clinical applications of NGS. An integration of BGI’s expertise on sequencing and bioinformatics, along with Sidra’s pioneering clinical and translational research, will lead to exciting prospects in the development of genomic translational medicine and personalised health care.”

Dr. William F. Owen Jr, Chief Executive Officer of Sidra said: “It is a major milestone for Sidra to partner with BGI Health, an established, world-class genomics leader. This agreement will facilitate routine, interactive relationships between Sidra and other local scientists in research and development. Obviously, this will bring important benefits to the people of Qatar and the wider region through cutting-edge genomics and R&D.”