São Paulo, Brazil, 6 March 2023 – MGI Tech Co. Ltd. (MGI), a company dedicated to developing core tools and technology to advance life science, in partnership with Brazilian distributor Pensabio, is bringing a new sequencing technology to Brazil to support a large national genomics project.
The project aims to sequence the complete genomes of thousands of patients with rare diseases and hereditary cancers, searching for genetic markers to track inherited conditions and enable early diagnosis. The initiative also seeks to stimulate technological and scientific development in Brazil by supporting the growth of the national genomics industry.
“MGI is excited to bring one of the world’s most innovative genetic sequencing technologies* to Brazil. By supporting this project, we hope to contribute to solutions that improve the health and quality of life of all Brazilians,” says Yongwei Zhang, CEO of MGI Americas.
Over the last three years, the project has enrolled more than 5,600 patients. The new technology is expected to increase the speed of genome sequencing for patients with rare diseases in Brazil.
“We have already created the largest genetic database in Brazil, which will be invaluable to the scientific community studying rare diseases and to the wider healthcare system. The information may support various future research projects. We also aim to establish protocols for integrating genomics into clinical practice, to accelerate diagnosis, refine therapeutic and preventive care, improve quality of life and reduce long-term healthcare costs,” says Dr João Bosco de Oliveira Filho, project coordinator.
“Additionally, we plan to train professionals who can contribute to new discoveries in genomics, as occurred at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,” adds Dr Oliveira Filho.
Innovation for health impact
The Brazilian genomics project will adopt MGI technology, already used in large-scale population genomics research worldwide, known for its accuracy, reliability and affordability. Last year, Indonesia’s Ministry of Health selected MGI sequencing and automation technology for its National Genome Project, and Thailand’s Genomics Thailand Initiative incorporated it into its roadmap for genomic medicine.
Powered by MGI’s core DNBSEQ™ technology, the DNBSEQ-T7* platform can generate 6TB of high-quality data daily and sequence up to 60 whole human genomes per day. This ultra-fast, high-capacity system is recognised as one of the most powerful sequencers to date.
The equipment* is also capable of deep exome sequencing, epigenome sequencing, transcriptome analysis, and tumour panels. It can be used for large-scale analysis projects, utilising advanced biochemical systems, fluidics, and optics to make sequencing more efficient and productive.
Unless otherwise informed, StandardMPS and CoolMPS sequencing reagents, and sequencers for use with such reagents, are not available in Germany, Spain, the UK, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Finland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Portugal, Austria, and Romania. StandardMPS sequencing reagents, and sequencers for use with such reagents, are also not available in Hong Kong.
About Pensabio
Pensabio was created to meet the highest demands of life sciences in Brazil, with a commitment to offer high-end solutions supported by top-level service. Following the tradition of the Pensalab Group, the company prioritises customer satisfaction across consulting, sales, support, and service delivery. The Pensalab Group has over 20 years of experience operating nationwide and across Latin America. In addition to Pensabio, the group owns Pensalab and Pensacom, with four offices in Brazil and one in the USA.
For more information, visit the Pensabio website or connect via LinkedIn.
