Illumina Selected to Support National Genomics Study for Personalized Healthcare in Singapore

Its latest phase expands beyond healthy volunteers to people with a broad range of medical conditions, examining how genetic differences may influence disease and treatment response. A new national genomics study will now extend whole-genome sequencing to nearly one in 10 residents to help guide the integration of precision medicine into routine care.

Illumina has been selected to provide whole-genome sequencing services for SG-INSIGHT, a cohort under Phase III of Singapore’s National Precision Medicine (NPM) program. The study is expected to include around 450,000 individuals and will combine genomic and health data to generate evidence that could inform more preventive approaches to healthcare. SG-INSIGHT is also intended to support the responsible introduction of genetic screening into Singapore’s public healthcare system and contribute to more personalized care over time.

Sequencing will be performed in Singapore at Illumina’s local genomics facility, where scientific, laboratory, and bioinformatics teams will oversee sample preparation, sequencing, and genomic data analysis. The facility is co-located with Illumina’s manufacturing and research and development operations and will seek the necessary accreditation while complying with Singapore’s Healthcare Services Act 2020. Illumina was selected through an international competitive tender, building on its support for NPM Phase II, PRECISE-SG100K, which involved sequencing more than 100,000 genomes from healthy volunteers.

“Singapore is showing what the future of precision medicine can look like at national scale. By bringing genomic information closer to everyday healthcare, this programme has the potential to advance understanding of disease, generate evidence that supports more informed care decisions, and ultimately move healthcare toward earlier, more precise intervention. We are proud to bring Illumina's technology, expertise and longstanding presence in Singapore to help make that vision possible,” said Jacob Thaysen, Chief Executive Officer of Illumina.

“Phase III builds on nearly a decade of precision medicine in Singapore. By extending the programme to patients across the public healthcare system, SG-INSIGHT aims to deepen understanding of how genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors are associated with health and disease. Phase III reflects Singapore's ambition to build a trusted and sustainable precision health ecosystem grounded in the needs and diversity of its population,” said Professor Patrick Tan, Executive Director of PRECISE.

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Precision Health Research, Singapore