Abstract

Clinical Whole Genome Sequencing, The Final Frontier

Tom Berkovits, Director Market Development, Clinical Genomics, Asia Pacific, Illumina

Unprecedented advances in genome sequencing technology are significantly changing scientific research, drug development, and clinical care. Just over a decade after the first human genome was sequenced, an entire human genome can now be sequenced in a few days. Coupled with a dramatic decline in sequencing cost, the technology has moved from the cutting edge of science to a transformative technology, promising to benefit virtually every area of human health. Genome sequencing offers significant advances in our understanding of disease, leading to a new era of precision medicine in which health care can be tailored to the molecular makeup of an individual. Illumina’s mission is to improve human health by unlocking the power of the genome. The introduction of cWGS is enabling this mission to become a reality, using the latest NGS technology to increase diagnostic yields, shorten time to definitive diagnoses and simplify test selection.