BGI Group

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 🎄Great news for all PhD candidates in life sciences! The Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and BGI are offering a four-year, fully funded international PhD program in life sciences, biomedical sciences, bioinformatics, and related disciplines. This is a unique opportunity to work in two world-class research environments in Spain and China, bridging academic research with real-world applications. Apply NOW: https://lnkd.in/g6SVSWet

In late 2024, BGI-Research, in collaboration with the China CDC and other partners, successfully enhanced malaria genomic surveillance capabilities in Sierra Leone using BGI’s long- and short-read sequencing platform as well as its all-in-one bioinformatics workstation. https://lnkd.in/g568CwPK

As the year ends, I remember to update about the privilege I had to lead an African Delegation of Scientists to China for #PerenialRice. As crazy as it may sound on the surface, yes the Chinese have perfected the art and science of perennial rice technology. The basic idea is very simple though. It is the learning from grasses that grow continuously due to underground rhizomes. Many who had doubted about perennial rice had an opportunity to taste, touch, smell, see it. The varieties area product of interspecific crosses between Oryza longistaminata and O. sativa. It was developed after 25 years of exploration by #BGI, #LongPingHitech and #WuhanUniversity among other partners to achieve stable yields over multiple harvests across several years. The farmer does not have to buy seeds, raise seedlings, plough and harrow the field, or transplant every season. #NARO in Uganda is the first African NARS to release and register a commercial perennial rice variety. The big question for me is the #SeedSystems. Does the field have to be certified every season? How does a seed company sustain the business if the farmer buys the seed once and does not come back for years? How prepared are we (in Africa) for Integrated soil fertility and fertilizer management, integrated pest (weed, insect pests, disease) management on perennial rice fields? The more I think about this technology, the more I get fascinated with even more possibilities like other perennial cereals, legumes, vegetables, etc in a resilient agrifood systems production. International Rice Research Institute, BGI Group,LongPing High-Tech, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Agricultural Research Organisation - NARO Jimmy Lamo

Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya and his delegation visited BGI Group to explore potential collaborations in disease control, public health infrastructure, and staff training. https://bit.ly/3VOafKD

"Science should be without borders, and we should not stop collaborating." Over 100 global leaders in genomics came together at ICG-19 in Shenzhen, to share innovations and foster international collaboration. Listen to their words on ICG this year: https://lnkd.in/gK-5JwBU

BGI recently concluded a 90-day intensive Public Health Laboratory Training Program for 36 African participants and established the "African Microbiome Consortium for Infectious Diseases" to advance future public health in Africa. https://bit.ly/3VKEamO

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif of Punjab Province, Pakistan, led a delegation to visit BGI Group’s Global Headquarters in Shenzhen. During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed, focusing on key areas such as the construction of medical testing platforms and the prevention and control of diseases. This collaboration marks a significant step toward advancing public health and fostering innovation for the people of Pakistan. https://lnkd.in/dgRJvekb

New progress in ALS research had been made! Working with Mr. Cai Lei, BGI scientists discovered ALS is a complex disease with similar symptoms, not a single condition. WGS improved detection by one-third over WES by identifying more complex variants. More: https://lnkd.in/gvjS63DY

BGI Group CEO Dr. Yin Ye and National Agricultural Research Organisation - NARO Uganda Director General Dr. Yona Baguma reinforced their collaboration to promote sustainable agriculture in Africa through advancements in perennial rice cultivation, aiming to enhance food security. https://lnkd.in/gKQdTXhj

Welcome to the December Edition of the BGl Group Newsletter!