Alliance launched in Kuala Lumpur aims to boost genomic research, diagnosis and access to precision medicine across the Asia Pacific region…reports Asian Lite News
Asian countries have launched a new regional alliance aimed at strengthening collaboration in rare disease care, with experts warning that millions of patients across the Asia Pacific still face major barriers to diagnosis and treatment.
The Human Genome Project II Rare Disease Alliance of the Asia Pacific Region, known as HGP2 RaDiAnce APAC, was officially launched in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. The initiative brings together clinical specialists, genomics researchers and public health representatives from 10 countries across the region.
Delegates from Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal, China, the Philippines, Cambodia and Pakistan attended the launch meeting, according to Xinhua news agency.
The alliance has been co initiated by China’s BGI Group alongside regional partners. It aims to improve cooperation in rare disease diagnosis, genomics research, capacity building and public health responses across the Asia Pacific.
Organisers said the initiative seeks to tackle long standing challenges in the region, including weak diagnostic capacity, unequal access to precision medicine and fragmented standards for treatment and data sharing.
During the launch event, member countries signed the Joint Declaration of the HGP2 RaDiAnce APAC Initiative, reaffirming their commitment to closer regional cooperation in rare disease care and research.
Nor Fariza Binti Ngah, deputy director general of health for research and technical support at the Malaysian Ministry of Health, said stronger collaboration on rare diseases was increasingly important for countries across the Asia Pacific.
She stressed that regional partnerships would help improve knowledge sharing, technical expertise and access to healthcare innovations.
Zilfalil Bin Alwi, professor of medical genetics and senior consultant paediatrician and clinical geneticist at Universiti Sains Malaysia, said the diversity of countries participating in the alliance reflected the growing importance of coordinated action on rare diseases.
Hou Yong, general manager of BGI Genomics, a subsidiary of BGI Group, said the initiative would support the standardisation and intelligent transformation of rare disease diagnosis and treatment in the region.
He added that the alliance also aimed to improve equitable access to healthcare services and advanced genetic technologies.
Thong Meow Keong, professor at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman and visiting consultant clinical geneticist at University Malaya Medical Centre, said the Asia Pacific region was playing an increasingly active role in the second phase of the Human Genome Project.
He noted that efforts were now focused on advancing rare disease diagnosis, genetic technologies and precision public health systems.
Thong said millions of people worldwide continue to live with rare diseases, many of which remain undiagnosed or poorly understood. He expressed hope that advances in genetic technology and artificial intelligence would help transform healthcare systems and improve outcomes for patients suffering from rare conditions.
Rare diseases are often difficult to diagnose because of limited awareness, insufficient testing infrastructure and the high cost of specialised treatments. Experts say regional cooperation and shared research networks are essential to improving early detection and expanding access to personalised medicine.
