Singapore, September 15, 2023 – MGI Tech Singapore Pte. Ltd. (“MGI”), a company committed to building core tools and technologies that advance life science, has entered a research partnership with the National Cancer Centre Singapore (“NCCS”) to conduct comprehensive, multi-dimensional genomic profiling of Asian-prevalent cancers using MGI’s DNBSEQ™ technology. This collaboration marks another milestone in MGI’s mission to empower personalized medicine and precision oncology through innovative genetic platforms.
“We are excited to work with NCCS to uncover the unique molecular genomic composition of cancers prevalent in Asia using our DNBSEQ-G400 sequencer,” said Dr. Roy Tan, General Manager of MGI Asia Pacific. “The implications of this partnership are significant. Precision oncology has developed unevenly outside the United States and Western Europe, with limited genomic data available for non-Western populations. By deepening our understanding of underrepresented cancer types, we aim to enable more precise prevention, diagnosis, and treatment—improving outcomes and quality of life within Asian communities.”
Under the partnership, MGI’s DNBSEQ-G400 sequencer has been installed at NCCS’s Cancer Discovery Hub (CDH) to run RNA-seq samples. The versatile benchtop sequencer features a dual flow cell system supporting a range of sequencing modes. With optimized optical and biomedical systems, manual operation for whole-genome sequencing is reduced to under 30 minutes from sample to report. Its embedded data analysis software completes PE150 sequencing at full capacity in just 37 hours, offering users an efficient, end-to-end sequencing workflow.
Using DNBSEQ technology, researchers will profile the somatic genomic landscape of selected Asian-prevalent cancers, including those of the head and neck, ovary, breast, stomach, colon, liver, bile duct, cervix, lung, prostate, and oesophagus, as well as phyllodes tumours, angiosarcomas, lymphomas, fibroepithelial tumours, and other rare cancers. DNBSEQ will also be included in the Cancer Discovery Hub’s molecular assay catalogue to support cancer research across Singapore.
“Combining CDH’s expertise in multi-omics molecular diagnostics and research with MGI’s state-of-the-art, high-throughput sequencing technologies, this collaboration will not only illuminate the mechanisms and development of Asian-prevalent cancers but also inform better strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment,” said Dr. Jason Chan, Director of the NCCS Cancer Discovery Hub. “Looking ahead, we will continue to work with MGI and leverage their cutting-edge technologies to advance our cancer therapeutics research.”
Earlier this year, NCCS published a study in Nature on the topological immune landscapes of Asian head and neck angiosarcoma, utilizing MGI’s DNBSEQ technology. Researchers successfully performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) on FFPE samples using MGI’s ultra-fast, high-accuracy DNBSEQ-T7 sequencer. All 50 libraries were sequenced with 100 bp paired-end reads, enabling the identification of genomic, transcriptomic, and immune landscapes of angiosarcomas in Asian populations—paving the way for more precise treatment strategies.
Beyond this partnership, NCCS intends to join MGI’s DCS Lab Initiative—an international program that supports leading multi-omics laboratories with MGI’s DNA sequencing, Cell omics, and Spatial omics (DCS) products powered by DNBSEQ technology. This initiative aims to accelerate oncology research and improve cancer prevention, diagnostics, and treatment outcomes.
With its low duplication rate and high data utilization, MGI’s DNBSEQ technology has proven highly effective in high-depth sequencing and the analysis of low-concentration or complex oncology samples, such as peripheral blood and circulating tumour DNA. DNBSEQ-based platforms have enabled clinicians and researchers to perform precise and cost-effective genomic analyses, making precision oncology more accessible and impactful for patients and healthcare providers worldwide.
