UK-based startup Lifebit Biotech Ltd has announced that it has been awarded a four-year contract by Hong Kong Genome Institute (HKGI) to support its implementation of the first large-scale genome sequencing initiative in Hong Kong.

Lifebit's precision medicine software will power Hong Kong's development of genomic medicine by supporting the Hong Kong Genome Institute to implement the first large-scale genome sequencing initiative, the Hong Kong Genome Project.

The Project will empower medical professionals and researchers to leverage up to 50,000 whole genomes to achieve faster diagnosis, more precise and personalised treatments and perform disease surveillance.

Lifebit offers federated solutions for leading precision medicine initiatives. In 2020, Lifebit and Genomics England launched a Trusted Research Environment which provides top pharma companies, researchers and clinicians secure and full-fledged analysis access to cancer and rare disease clinico-genomic data.

Funded by the Hong Kong SAR Government, HKGI is tasked to take forward the implementation of the Project with the view of serving as a catalyst to establish a genome database of local population, testing infrastructure and talent pool in Hong Kong.

To support HKGI and the Project, Lifebit will deploy a highly scalable cloud and HPC infrastructure to transform raw sequencing data into clinical diagnosis and research insights in as little as 3 hours.