Singapore expands genome sequencing program

QIAGEN will provide automated DNA preparation technology for Singapore’s National Precision Medicine program, supporting an initiative that aims to expand genomic research to about 450,000 residents.

The biotechnology company announced on 3 November 2026 that its QIAsprint Connect system and QIAseq FX DNA Library Kit will support SG-INSIGHT, a study under the program’s third phase.

The project is coordinated by Precision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE), with support from Singapore’s Ministry of Health.

Unlike the previous phase, which focused on healthy volunteers, Phase III will include patients with various medical conditions across Singapore’s three public healthcare clusters.

The expansion aims to bring genomic research closer to clinical practice, potentially helping healthcare providers develop more personalized approaches to disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

QIAGEN’s automated system extracts DNA and prepares samples for whole-genome sequencing, with a peak capacity exceeding 3,600 samples per week.

The technology also features barcode verification and automated audit trails to reduce processing errors and improve sample traceability.

“Population genomics is increasingly moving closer to clinical care, placing new demands on the reliability, consistency and scalability of the workflows that underpin whole genome sequencing,” said Justus Krause-Harder, QIAGEN’s head of Molecular Tools and Oncology.

The SG-INSIGHT project involves a consortium led by Singapore-based Lucence alongside Ultima Genomics, which will provide sequencing technology through its UG200 platform.

QIAGEN said the project marks the first deployment of its universal next-generation sequencing products in a nationwide population genomics study.