Pakistan, China genomics partnership to advance genetic research to expand potential areas for cooperation.
The Ministry of National Health Services has launched a strategic roadmap to collaborate with China’s leading genomics research institution, BGI Group, aiming to bolster Pakistan’s national capacity in genetic research. This initiative seeks to advance genetic testing, rare disease research, and diagnostic technologies in the country.
During a high-level meeting chaired by Minister of State for Health Dr. Mukhtar Bharath, alongside the Executive Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), discussions centered on possible areas of cooperation with BGI Group. The meeting underscored BGI’s strong interest in supporting Pakistan’s health sector.
Dr. Bharath highlighted the partnership as the beginning of a new era in early disease diagnosis and prevention, proposing the creation of a national gene bank to benefit future generations. He stressed the need for a well-structured international collaboration plan and assigned the NIH to spearhead these efforts.
To determine Pakistan’s technical and strategic priorities in genetic health, the NIH will form a team of experts tasked with drafting recommendations on effectively utilizing BGI’s expertise to meet national goals. A Pakistani delegation is also scheduled to visit BGI’s facilities in China to study their advanced research on thalassemia, reproductive health, cancer, and rare diseases.
Dr. Bharath welcomed BGI’s invitation for the visit, seeing it as a valuable opportunity to learn from their cutting-edge research environment. After these consultations and visits, the Government of Pakistan intends to formalize the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BGI Group.
Dr. Bharath concluded by stating that this collaboration will serve as a foundation for a transformative advancement in Pakistan’s biological and genetic research sector.
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