Event highlights
16 May 2024
Human genomics: setting path for equitable access in the Western Pacific
The first regional Expert Meeting on Accelerating Access to Human Genomics for Public Health took place in Manila, Philippines from 29 to 30 April 2024. The two-day event brought together 47 senior experts from national genomic initiatives, cancer genomics, rare diseases, bioethics and research policy in the Region. This landmark event drew inspiration from the first World Health Organization (WHO) Science Council Report in 2022, which underscored the imperative to accelerate access to genomic technologies, particularly in less-resourced countries, to foster the collective attainment of health and other benefits for all. It was further propelled by the subsequent establishment of a comprehensive WHO genomics programme of work.
Owing to its ethnic, socioeconomic, and geopolitical diversity, and by several noteworthy successes in implementing large-scale human genomic programmes, the Western Pacific Region is uniquely positioned to tackle challenges in advancing equitable access to human genomic technologies. To bolster regional initiatives in the field, the meeting aimed to achieve several objectives, including:
- raising awareness of the benefits and risks of human genomics;
- identifying challenges and opportunities; and
- developing a joint vision to accelerate access to human genomics in the Region.
Participants shared best practices and experiences and engaged in discussions on the implementation challenges of human genomic programmes. The experts also worked in groups to tackle issues on equity, advocacy and communication, private sector engagement, and workforce development in human genomics.
Overcoming challenges and expanding opportunities
There was overwhelming recognition of the stark lack of diversity in large-scale international human genomic initiatives, with far smaller inclusion of those coming from less-resourced countries and underrepresented groups, including in the Western Pacific Region. This limits the ability to derive equitable benefits from genomic medicine and presents potential negative consequences. To address this inequity, efforts to enhance genomic literacy among the public and funders, engage diverse populations, and involve stakeholders early were deemed crucial.
The experts also emphasized that many countries in the Region lacked the infrastructure and trained professionals for genomic initiatives, considering all other competing health needs. They identified leveraging existing expertise in pathogen genomics, investing in training programs, and incentivizing workforce retention as essential steps to overcome these implementation challenges and secure equitable access to human genomic applications.
Private sector engagement was considered critical to bolster resource sharing and innovation, particularly in less-resourced contexts. Cross-country collaborations were also viewed as opportunities to enhance purchasing power and streamline data harmonization.
The experts acknowledged that ethical considerations loomed large, calling for robust data governance frameworks and adaptable policies to navigate a rapidly evolving scientific field. They also advocated for the inclusion of efforts to ensure participation of disadvantaged groups including indigenous populations into policy frameworks to achieve genomic equity in the Region.
A call to action in the Western Pacific Region
To support institutions and countries in the Region, WHO was recommended to support with guidance for the establishment of country-level human genomic initiatives:
- to develop and promote case studies from the Western Pacific Region that highlight use cases and best practices in developing investment proposals;
- to facilitate dialogues between research institutions, government agencies, and private sector to set unified goals for collaborative efforts; and
- to develop and promote an equitable framework for initiating, implementing, and evaluating human genomic programs with particular attention to the needs of less-resourced countries.
The meeting insights underscore the multifaceted nature of the opportunities and challenges in accelerating access to human genomics for public health in the Western Pacific Region, necessitating coordinated action at the national, regional, and global levels to realize the transformative potential of human genomics.
Event notice
29 – 30 April 2024
Genomics, a rapidly evolving field, utilizes DNA and RNA to advance medicine and public health, providing insights into various diseases and traits and paving the way for precision public health genomics. Following the sequencing of the human genome in 2001, the WHO's Advisory Committee on Health Research published a report on genomics in 2002, leading to the endorsement of a resolution on Genomics and World Health in 2004.
In the years following this resolution, genomic sequencing played a vital role in the monitoring of infectious diseases and numerous international genomic projects. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated the application of genomic technologies, enabling faster diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. In 2022, the WHO's Science Council focused its first report on genomics, emphasizing its global applications and challenges, especially in lower-resource settings. The report promotes advocacy, implementation, collaboration, and addressing ethical issues to expand access to genomic technologies.
The Western Pacific region is a pivotal player in advancing access to human genomic technologies, with prominent economies pioneering public health genomics with strong capacity and governance frameworks. This region's genetic diversity further equips it to provide insights into genomics implementation. An upcoming event will facilitate sharing of initiatives in the Region, identify challenges and opportunities for harnessing human genomic technologies for public health, and set the regional agenda for both state and non-state stakeholders to accelerate access to human genomics for public health, particularly in less-resourced settings.
An expert consultation on accelerating human genomics for public health in the Western Pacific will be held from April 29 to 30, 2024, in Manila, Philippines.
The objectives of the consultation are:
- to raise awareness of the benefits and risks of genomic technology implementation through sharing of the Science Council report and initiatives in the Region;
- to develop a joint vision on accelerating access to human genomic technologies in the region and defining the roles of governments;
- to identifying issues impeding the implementation of genomic programs and planning a stepwise approach for WHO to coordinate actions that can accelerate access to genomic technologies.