Illumina and NTU Hospital Sign Collaboration Agreement to Launch Large-Scale Whole Genome Sequencing Project

On October 15, 2024, National Taiwan University (NTU) Hospital and global genomics company Illumina signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a “Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) Project.” The signing ceremony took place in Conference Room 1 on the second floor of NTU Hospital’s East Branch, presided over by NTU Hospital Superintendent Wu Ming-Shiang. Illumina was represented by Jenny Zheng, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Greater China. Attendees from NTU Hospital included President Wu Ming-Shiang, Professor Jane Yin-Hsiu Chien, Director of the Department of Genetic Medicine, Professor Chen Pei-Lung, Director of the Institute of Genomics and Proteomics, Assistant Professor Xu Shu-Rui, Professor Yang Wei-Shiung, Director of the Department of Medical Research, and several other distinguished faculty members. Illumina’s delegation included Regional Operations Head Cheng Yu-Hsiang, Taiwan Business Head Wang Chi-Han, Senior Regional Client Manager Liu Hsiao-Chuan, and other members from the Medical Affairs and Marketing teams. 

NGS Technology with High-Throughput Sequencing: Supporting Precision Treatment for Cancer, Rare Diseases, and Neurological Disorders

The launch of the 10,000-person WGS project marks a new milestone for precision medicine in Taiwan. NTU Hospital President Wu Ming-Shiang emphasized that NTU Hospital is the first in Taiwan to initiate a large-scale WGS project involving over 10,000 cases. The hospital aims to gain deeper insights into the genetic profiles and variations of specific diseases. This will help explore how genes influence disease progression. Consequently, healthcare professionals can intervene earlier in treatment. The signing of the MoU with Illumina symbolizes NTU Hospital’s continued commitment to precision medicine. Going forward, the hospital plans to invest more resources and manpower. These efforts will enhance diagnostic and treatment techniques, ultimately improving patient health and quality of life.

Jenny Zheng, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Greater China at Illumina, stated that Illumina will continue to accelerate innovation. As a global leader in gene sequencing and microarray technology, Illumina combines global expertise with local needs. The company aims to further collaborate with Taiwan’s leading clinical and research institutions. This will help develop new genomic applications in diagnostics and treatments. Such efforts will contribute to the advancement of precision medicine in Taiwan and worldwide.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) involves sequencing all human genes to identify genomic variations. These variations include single nucleotide variants, copy number variants, structural variations, and sequence insertions and deletions. WGS allows researchers and physicians to accurately identify a patient’s genetic variations. This also helps recognize potential pathogenic mechanisms and predict disease occurrence or recurrence risk. Furthermore, WGS assesses drug response, achieving personalized medicine. Moreover, by accumulating large-scale genomic data, a future genetic database may be established. This will promote the development of the biomedical industry and nationwide precision health.

Faster Sequencing Technology Driving Precision Medicine

With the rapid development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, the performance of sequencing instruments has significantly improved, and the cost of WGS has dropped substantially. In this collaboration, NTU Hospital will use Illumina’s high-throughput NovaSeq X Plus sequencing platform. Each run can complete WGS for over 120 individuals, with sequencing speeds doubling compared to previous models. In the future, NTU Hospital plans to perform WGS on approximately 50,000 patients, covering diagnosis and treatment for cancer, neurological diseases, and rare genetic disorders.

NTU Hospital and Illumina sign a Memorandum of Understanding, marking a new milestone for precision medicine in Taiwan. Jenny Zheng, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Greater China at Illumina (left) and Wu Ming-Shiang,  NTU Hospital Superintendent. Image: NTU Hospital

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