Singapore General Hospital (SGH) partners Thermo Fisher Scientific to identify Asian-specific cancer genetic mutations on Thermo Fisher’s Ion Torrent next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform.
 
SGH and Thermo Fisher Scientific have entered a partnership to identify genetic mutations that cause cancer in Asian populations. This project will be carried out by utilising Thermo Fisher’s Ion Torrent next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform.

The collaboration seeks to analyse retrospective samples from Asian cancer patients. The teams will identify mutational profiles and compare it against existing data from a reference population. Most of the data in this reference population are from Caucasian patients.

“Investigating the difference in cancer gene mutations among different populations is an essential factor in advancing healthcare in a multiracial and multicultural society,” said Prof Tan Puay Hoon, Head of the Department of Pathology at SGH.

“This partnership will enable the oncology community to take steps towards realising better and personalised care in the region.”

For the first phase of the project, SGH will be conducting a validation study. Both teams are hoping to then analyse prospective data of multiple cancers with NGS. They are seeking to achieve the highest level of data acquisition that will lead to new tests that can be applied in clinical setting.

This research started in May and is part of the POLARIS@SingHealth programme funded by Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).