5th hospital, genomics firm to discover, prevent disease

The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University and BGI Genomics initiated a joint laboratory on June 13 to do clinical research on infections, tumors, inheritance, metabolism, and cardiovascular disease. It is hailed as a major advance for precision medicine in Zhuhai.

Certain genetic tests can prevent or affect 30 percent of birth defects and identify cancer at the molecular level for early-phase treatment and precise prognostic estimates.

Plaque unveiling ceremony [Photo courtesy zsufivehos.com]

BGI Genomics, headquartered in Shenzhen, is China's only hi-tech enterprise mastering core sequencing technology as well as the world's largest center for genetic testing and genomics research.

The accuracy rate of its self-developed sequencer is 99.99 percent based on the Complete Genomics' core technology, a global frontrunner in the respect. BGI Genomics is also well experienced in constructing high-throughput sequencing and molecular laboratories.

Shan Hong, president of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, pledged that the lab would be a starting point to develop precision medicine. This, he added, will lead to the reduction of birth defects and improvement in newborn quality.

Combined efforts will be made to achieve accurate diagnosis to predict the risk of hidden disease, and provide patients with more efficient and targeted treatment, he said. It is believed that treatment of diseases will be shifted to prevention.

The general hospital, Zhōngshān dàxué fùshǔ dì wǔ yīyuàn, which is located on East Meihua Road in Xiangzhou, integrates healthcare, scientific research, and education.