Australia is considering embarking on its own 100,000 genomes project, the PHG Foundation says.
The Garvan Institute of Medical Research is in talks with the federal government and private and public research institutions, including the Australian telecommunications giant Telstra, to try to get a four-year, AUS$400 million effort — modeled after the UK project — off the ground, the Australian reports.
The UK 100,000 Genomes Project aims to sequence the genomes of 25,000 cancer patients, 15,000 people with a rare disease, and 35,000 healthy relatives.
"There are very few opportunities for Australia to be a major player in a major technological, social, and economic revolution," John Mattick, the director of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, tells the Australian. "Genomic medicine will transform healthcare and the economy, and create a new generation of innovative regional and global industries."
The PHG Foundation notes that the Garvan Institute recently signed a formal memorandum of understanding with Genomics England, which is running the UK project.