Singapore is hosting the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) 14th Plenary meeting from 28 September to 2 October 2026 — the first time the flagship meeting has been held in Asia.
At the Plenary, Precision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE) has been designated GA4GH’s Regional Hub Institution (RHI) for Asia Pacific and has signed two international Memoranda of Understanding with GA4GH and Genomics Australia.
The developments reflect Singapore’s growing regional and international standing in genomics and precision medicine, built through nearly a decade of developing, implementing and advancing Singapore’s National Precision Medicine programme.
Countries from Asia Pacific comprise half of the 28 countries represented at the meeting.
Singapore as GA4GH's Asia-Pacific anchor
The MOU signed by PRECISE and GA4GH designates PRECISE as the first Regional Hub Institution for Asia Pacific, with Singapore serving as GA4GH’s focal point in Asia.
Its responsibilities include strengthening links between Asia-Pacific stakeholders and the wider GA4GH community through outreach and engagement, as well as advancing GA4GH standards towards International Organisation for Standardisation recognition.
“PRECISE and Singapore have been active partners in the GA4GH community for many years, contributing to global genomics standards, and international collaboration for example, through supporting cross-border research. Singapore’s appointment as GA4GH’s first Asian Regional Hub Institution is a natural progression of this partnership and recognises Singapore’s growing influence in genomics and precision medicine,” said Professor Patrick Tan, Executive Director, PRECISE and Board Member, GA4GH Inc.
“Convening in Asia as a full community is long overdue and presents a huge opportunity for GA4GH. The region’s pace of development and discovery has become central to the future of genomics. As GA4GH’s Regional Hub Institution for Asia Pacific, PRECISE will convene and connect the region, strengthening GA4GH’s engagement with the global genomics community. Hosting 14th Plenary marks an important first step in this role,” said Peter Goodhand, President, GA4GH Inc.
Deepening bilateral collaboration with Genomics Australia
The MOU signed by PRECISE and Genomics Australia sets out a framework for cooperation in areas such as population-scale genomic screening and care pathways; the responsible management and security of genomic data; public and patient engagement; and workforce capacity and education.
“The last decade has been a pivotal period for genomics in both Australia and Singapore, and our two national efforts have progressed strongly with different emphases but complementary strengths. Working with PRECISE is a great opportunity to learn from Singapore's experience and to share our own, as both countries move toward mainstreaming genomics in routine care,” said Tiffany Boughtwood, Australian Health Genomics Commissioner.
The partnership will also focus on progressing the implementation of health genomics through areas including public, patient and community engagement; population-scale screening; clinical service delivery; health technology assessment and regulatory processes; and genomic data management, including data security and technical infrastructure.
Singapore brings experience from a highly integrated, urbanised health system with a multi-ancestry Asian population, while Australia brings the perspective of a federated system serving a diverse and geographically dispersed population.
From national progress to global partnership
Since the launch of Singapore’s National Precision Medicine programme in 2017, the country has steadily built its capabilities in genomics and precision medicine.
This includes the PRECISE-SG100K cohort and clinical implementation studies examining how genomics could improve the identification and management of genetic high cholesterol, hereditary cancers, kidney disease and medication-related risks.
The hosting of the GA4GH 14th Plenary meeting in Singapore, PRECISE’s appointment as the first GA4GH Regional Hub Institution and its new partnership with Genomics Australia reflect Singapore’s progress and international recognition.
Through these initiatives, Singapore is positioned to contribute its expertise, strengthen collaboration across Asia Pacific and help shape the responsible advancement of genomics globally.
