Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan today visited the Hong Kong Genome Institute to learn more about the progress of the Hong Kong Genome Project and exchange views with the institute staff about their work.

The Chief Executive announced the launch of the genome project in the 2018 Policy Address, with $1.2 billion earmarked in the 2019-20 Budget for related purposes.

The Genome Institute was established in May 2020 to take forward the project with partners including the Hospital Authority and local universities. It is staffed by a team of professionals including doctors, scientific officers, bioinformaticians and genetic counsellors.

The project will be implemented in two phases, with the pilot phase having commenced in July 2021 which covered about 2,000 cases with undiagnosed disorders and hereditary cancers.

The main phase, which will be extended to cover 18,000 cases of diseases linked to hereditary components, is expected to commence in mid-2022.

Speaking during her visit of the institute, Prof Chan said that genomic medicine has huge potential in screening, diagnosis and personalised treatment of diseases.

“The Government is determined to promote local development of genomic medicine, so that our patients can benefit from more precise diagnosis and more effective treatment,” she added.

The health chief then proceeded to the Hong Kong Children's Hospital where she toured the facilities of a partnering centre.

In the pilot phase of the project, eligible participants will be recruited by the partnering centres at the Children's Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital in collaboration with the Genome Institute.

"Making reference to similar overseas projects, genomic and clinical data collected under the Hong Kong Genome Project will be de-identified and kept in a bioinformatics analysis platform set up by the Hong Kong Genome Institute for access by approved researchers, with a view to promoting the development of local medical research and international academic exchanges.

“The project will strengthen Hong Kong's international status in such areas as genomic medicine and innovation and technology (I&T). I am delighted that local universities and I&T institutions welcome and have indicated strong support for the Genome Project," she added.