Latest news with #pathogenGenomics
Zawya
4 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
Malawi Launches Second Edition of Pathogen Genomic Surveillance Strategy and Implementation Plan
The Malawi Ministry of Health, launched its updated plan for the implementation of its Genomic Surveillance Strategy that was produced with technical support from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention – Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI) on 3 July. As pathogen genomics provides a powerful approach towards the investigation, management, and surveillance of infectious diseases, the plan is geared to include integration of multi-pathogen genomic surveillance into existing public health systems, research and development. The second version of the plan is aligned to Africa CDC Pathogen Genomics Surveillance Policy Framework and identified priority list of pathogens and use cases for genomic surveillance in Malawi and the region. The strategy has a robust, comprehensive, fully integrated, harmonized and well-coordinated mechanisms to guide monitoring of the implementation of the plan and evaluate impact. The improved plan has a National Genomics Committee comprising of a steering committee, advisory group and laboratories from public, private and academia. The first genomic strategy was launched in 2023 and runs to 2030 In his opening remarks, Secretary for Health Dr. Samsom Kwazirira Mndolo emphasized the critical role of genomics in monitoring antimicrobial resistance, disease outbreak detection, response and prevention as well in precision medicine. He underscored the role of the plan as a roadmap for implementing a robust one health genomic surveillance system across the country with different multi stakeholders, ministries and partners. 'We have been front runners in genomics, but we lost the opportunity to learn from others, so we decided to revisit and update the 2023 plan,' said Dr Mndolo. 'This moment marks the dawn of a new era, where science, innovation, and determination converge to build a stronger, more resilient health system for all starting from Malawi by leveraging genomic sequencing power to identify and track pathogens enabling early detection, tracking and characterization of pathogens,' said Dr Lul Riek, Director for the Southern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre. Dr Riek said by integrating pathogen genomic sequencing into its healthcare infrastructure, it aims to enhance its health security and swiftly respond to emerging and reemerging threats effectively. 'This makes Malawi one step ahead of other countries in disease detection and response,' he said. 'In the face of several emerging and reemerging health threats including Disease X ' a hypothetical emerging pathogen, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the resurgence of Mpox, Marburg, Cholera and other epidemics, we have witnessed firsthand the urgent need for resilient public health surveillance systems that can provide timely and actionable data,' said Dr Francis Chikuse, Senior Technical Officer for Public Health at Africa CDC. 'The National Multi Pathogen Genomic Surveillance Strategy is not just a response to these challenges but a proactive step toward building a robust system that leverages the power of molecular diagnostics and sequencing to safeguard the health of the of Malawians and beyond,' said Dr Chikuse. He said, Africa CDC in partnership with public, private and philanthropic sectors is enhancing continent-wide sample referral and data sharing strategy, systems, and governance to promote trusted, quality assured and timely data sharing as well as support the design and pilot implementation of high-impact public health priority genomic surveillance and use-cases and facilitate the utility of genomics data for policy, decision making, research and development of pandemic materials. In 2025, the World Health Assembly adopted the historic Pandemic Agreement to enhance global collaboration and to create a more equitable response to future pandemics. Africa CDC is working with 16 Member States including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Malawi, Zambia, Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Morocco, Togo, South Africa, Tanzania, Rwanda, Namibia, to develop their national pathogen genomics strategies. Through this collaboration, Malawi becomes the second country after Zambia to launch their genomic strategy. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MGI Tech Partners with Asia Pathogen Genomics Initiative to Advance Pathogen Genomics for Public Health in Asia
SINGAPORE, June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MGI Tech Co., Ltd. ("MGI"), a company dedicated to developing core tools and technologies that drive innovation in life sciences, and Asia Pathogen Genomics Initiative ("Asia PGI"), part of the Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness (COP), have recently announced collaboration aimed at enhancing pathogen genomics sequencing efforts across Asia. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to supporting public health initiatives through advanced life science technology. As part of this collaboration, MGI and Asia PGI will jointly democratize the pathogen genomics sequencing technology in Singapore and across Asia. The collaborative efforts will include hosting webinars to provide practical knowledge in pathogen genomics sequencing and delivering hands-on technical training to institutions and laboratories aimed at improving capacity development in pathogen detection. In addition, MGI also announced the launch of the MGI APAC Pandemic Preparedness Program (PPP) to strengthen the capabilities of genomics institutions and laboratories in pathogen surveillance. In collaboration with Asia PGI, the PPP aims to broaden the scope of pathogen surveillance solutions available to partner countries. The program offers a differentiated and sustainable alternative, focusing on application-centric and workflow-driven solutions. For example, it supports the development of equitable, effective, relevant, and validated workflow solutions to address acute infectious diseases. "At the Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness, we believe that equitable access to pathogen genomic sequencing is fundamental to strengthening health security across South and Southeast Asia," said Paul Pronyk, Director of COP. "By collaborating with industry partners such as MGI, we are committed to ensuring that all communities in our region benefit from the latest advances in pathogen genomics – enabling early detection, informed response and ultimately, a healthier future for all." "We are proud to partner with Asia PGI to accelerate the application of cutting-edge sequencing technology in pathogen genomics," said Roy Tan, General Manager of MGI Asia Pacific. "Pathogen control is a pressing challenge for many countries in Asia. This partnership aims to improve the accessibility of pathogen genomics, empowering researchers and public health professionals in their fight against infectious diseases." In response to the growing demand for rapid and precise detection of infectious diseases, MGI has developed a diverse array of comprehensive products for various applications, including metagenomic sequencing, targeted sequencing, and whole genome sequencing of pathogenic microorganisms. Looking ahead, MGI is committed to continuing its innovation, providing automated, convenient, and efficient core tools for pathogen identification, drug resistance analysis, and traceability. For more information of PPP, please visit: About the Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness (COP) and its Asia Pathogen Genomic Initiative (Asia PGI) The Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness (COP) was established in 2022 to address the growing need for enhanced preparedness and response to infectious disease outbreaks in the Asian region. With a mission to bridge the gap between research, training, policy and practice, COP aims to enhance regional health security across South and Southeast Asia. The Asia Pathogen Genomic Initiative (Asia PGI) is a flagship initiative of COP, aiming to harness scientific and technical partnerships across Singapore and Asia to advance genomic sequencing for infectious disease elimination. For more information, please visit About Duke-NUS Medical School Duke-NUS is Singapore's flagship graduate entry medical school, established in 2005 with a strategic, government-led partnership between two world-class institutions: Duke University School of Medicine and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Through an innovative curriculum, students at Duke-NUS are nurtured to become multi-faceted 'Clinicians Plus' poised to steer the healthcare and biomedical ecosystem in Singapore and beyond. A leader in ground-breaking research and translational innovation, Duke-NUS has gained international renown through its five signature research programmes and 10 centres. The enduring impact of its discoveries is amplified by its successful Academic Medicine partnership with Singapore Health Services (SingHealth), Singapore's largest healthcare group. This strategic alliance has spawned 15 Academic Clinical Programmes, which harness multi-disciplinary research and education to transform medicine and improve lives. For more information, please visit About MGI MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (or its subsidiaries, together referred to as MGI) is committed to building core tools and technologies that drive innovation in life science. Our focus lies in research & development, manufacturing, and sales of instruments, reagents, and related products in the field of life science and biotechnology. We provide real-time, multi-omics, and a full spectrum of digital equipment and systems for precision medicine, agriculture, healthcare, and various other industries. Founded in 2016, MGI has grown into a leader in life science, serving customers across six continents and establishing research, manufacturing, training, and after-sales service facilities globally. MGI stands out as one of the few companies capable of independently developing and mass-producing clinical-grade gene sequencers with varying throughput capacities, ranging from Gb to Tb levels. With unparalleled expertise, cutting-edge products, and a commitment to global impact, MGI continues to shape the trajectory of life sciences into the future. For more information, please visit the MGI website or connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn or YouTube. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE MGI Tech Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
