A consortium of international researchers, spearheaded by a team from China’s gene sequencing giant BGI, has issued a call to action for the revival of the Human Genome Project (HGP) in a new iteration dubbed HGP2. The initiative aims to address the burgeoning challenges facing the advancement of precision medicine globally. In a thought-provoking article featured in Cell, the researchers advocate for a global effort to sequence at least 1% of the Earth’s population, a milestone they believe is crucial for the future of genomic medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The authors argue that a coordinated international push for HGP2 is imperative for collecting multi-omics data from a wide array of populations. This data would enable the clinical significance of genetic and multi-omic variations to be documented and integrated into clinical practices and public health policies. Sequencing 1% of the global population, according to the researchers, would facilitate the development of standards and methodologies for incorporating multi-omics into precision medicine. This would lead to the establishment of global best practices in areas such as carrier screening, investigation of dominant disorders, rare disease diagnosis, and pharmacogenomics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The authors emphasize that realizing these advancements will necessitate unprecedented transnational collaboration to surmount a myriad of challenges, including economic, organizational, infrastructural, and ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI). They stress the importance of galvanizing global efforts to make precision medicine a universal benefit, accessible to all and adaptable for future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n