BGI Signed Quadripartite Memorandum of Understanding with Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol Universtiy, Bangkok Genomics Innovation Public Company Ltd. And Hemogen Hongkong Alpha Technology., Ltd.

On July 18, BGI, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol Universtiy, Bangkok Genomics Innovation Public Company Ltd. and Hemogen Hongkong Alpha Technology., Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on projects to improve the prevention and treatment of thalassaemia and on joint cooperation in cell and gene therapy.

Thailand is a country with a high prevalence of thalassemia and sickle-cell anemia, and the related hemoglobinopathies have become a prominent problem in Thailand's public health. According to statistics, 30-40% of the Thai population carries the thalassemia gene. The interaction of these genes results in more than 60 genotypes with variable clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic to fatal. Estimates based on gene frequencies and the number of newborn babies per year suggest that about 1.2% of babies are affected by severe thalassemia each year. Further estimates indicate that approximately 1% of the Thai population has thalassemia [1], which is a major national health problem for Thailand.

The thalassemia gene test kit, based on high-throughput sequencing technology, can detect hemoglobinopathies such as thalassemia and sickle-cell anemia at the same time. The introduction of this technology will provide Thailand with a more comprehensive and accurate means of genetic testing. High-throughput sequencing will enable a better understanding of the genotype and disease risk of patients, providing more accurate guidance for thalassemia prevention, screening and treatment.

Prof. Dr. Apichat Asavamongkolkul, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Shirila College of Medicine, Mahidol University, and his team members participated in the signing ceremony and discussion session, including Assoc. Prof. Prapat Wanitpongpan, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Corporate Communication and International Relations, Mahidol University, and Prof. Vip Viprakasi, faculty member of the Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, and other professors. Dr. Viprakasi of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology.

According to this MOU, the four parties will establish a long-term strategic partnership to work together on the prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment of thalassemia. Thalassemia is a highly prevalent disease in Thailand and places a huge burden on the national health care system. This collaboration will compare the scope, efficiency, outcomes, and health economics of thalassemia genetic screening using high-throughput sequencing-based technologies versus traditional methodologies, and collaborate on clinical trials for thalassemia gene therapy in Thailand.

In addition to this, the partners will work on academic and cultural exchanges, actively promote joint educational programs, collaborate on the development of relevant curricula, and provide convenient support for the training of academic and non-academic personnel.

Mahidol University is the oldest institution of higher education in Thailand, founded in 1888 as the Royal College of Medicine, Sirira. It enjoys a high reputation in the fields of medicine, public health and natural sciences, and was named after Prince Mahidol of Songkhla, the father of modern medicine and public health in Thailand, in 1969. It is a member of the World University Consortium.

For years, BGI has been committed to preventing, controlling and rescuing the disease, adhering to the concept of "prevention is more important than cure", and adopting advanced sequencing technology to promote genetic screening for geopoverty in conjunction with the governments of various places and various medical institutions. In China, BGI has successfully completed a number of genetic screening programs for geopoverty. In the future, BGI will further cooperate with all parties in Thailand, with the hope of promoting genetic technology for the benefit of Thai people.

Reference:

[1]Paiboonsukwong K, Jopang Y, Winichagoon P, Fucharoen S. Thalassemia in Thailand. Hemoglobin. 2022 Jan;46(1):53-57. doi: 10.1080/03630269.2022.2025824. PMID: 35950590.