First Effort to Integrate PacBio HiFi Whole Genome Sequencing in Newborn Screening Launches in Thailand
PacBio (PACB) and Chulalongkorn University have announced a strategic collaboration to implement PacBio HiFi whole genome sequencing (WGS) in a newborn screening research program in Thailand. This marks the first initiative in Asia Pacific to use PacBio's HiFi sequencing technology at population scale.
The collaboration aims to evaluate how comprehensive genomic data can support earlier identification of rare and treatable conditions in newborns. PacBio's HiFi WGS technology offers advantages over traditional screening methods by generating highly accurate genomic data, including regions typically inaccessible to short-read methods, while capturing epigenomic information in parallel.
This initiative positions Thailand as a regional leader in population-scale genomics and demonstrates Asia Pacific's growing influence in global genomics. The project aims to establish a scalable research model for genomic newborn screening, potentially serving as a blueprint for other countries seeking to modernize their screening programs.
PacBio (PACB) e la Università di Chulalongkorn hanno annunciato una collaborazione strategica per implementare il sequenziamento genomico completo PacBio HiFi (WGS) in un programma di screening neonatale in Thailandia. Questa è la prima iniziativa nell'area Asia Pacifica che utilizza la tecnologia di sequenziamento PacBio HiFi su scala di popolazione.
La collaborazione mira a valutare come dati genomici completi possano supportare l'identificazione precoce di malattie rare e trattabili nei neonati. La tecnologia PacBio HiFi WGS offre vantaggi rispetto ai metodi tradizionali di screening, generando dati genomici altamente accurati, inclusi regioni tipicamente non accessibili con metodi a lettura corta, catturando inoltre informazioni epigenomiche in parallelo.
Questa iniziativa posiziona la Thailandia come leader regionale nella genomica su scala di popolazione e dimostra l'influenza crescente dell'Asia Pacifica nella genomica globale. Il progetto punta a stabilire un modello di ricerca scalabile per lo screening genomico neonatale, che potrebbe diventare un modello per altri Paesi che desiderano modernizzare i propri programmi di screening.
PacBio (PACB) y la Universidad de Chulalongkorn han anunciado una colaboración estratégica para implementar la secuenciación genómica completa PacBio HiFi (WGS) en un programa de cribado neonatal en Tailandia. Esta es la primera iniciativa en Asia Pacífico que utiliza la tecnología de secuenciación PacBio HiFi a escala poblacional.
La colaboración tiene como objetivo evaluar cómo los datos genómicos integrales pueden apoyar la identificación temprana de condiciones raras y tratables en recién nacidos. La tecnología PacBio HiFi WGS ofrece ventajas sobre los métodos tradicionales de cribado al generar datos genómicos altamente precisos, incluyendo regiones típicamente inaccesibles para métodos de lectura corta, capturando además información epigenómica en paralelo.
Esta iniciativa posiciona a Tailandia como líder regional en genómica a escala poblacional y demuestra la creciente influencia de Asia Pacífico en la genómica global. El proyecto busca establecer un modelo de investigación escalable para el cribado genómico neonatal, que podría servir como modelo para otros países que deseen modernizar sus programas de cribado.
PacBio (PACB)와 출라롱콘 대학교가 태국의 신생아 선별 연구 프로그램에 PacBio HiFi 전장 유전체 시퀀싱(WGS)을 도입하기 위한 전략적 협력을 발표했습니다. 이는 아시아 태평양 지역에서 PacBio의 HiFi 시퀀싱 기술을 인구 규모로 활용하는 첫 번째 사례입니다.
이번 협력은 포괄적인 유전체 데이터가 신생아의 희귀하고 치료 가능한 질환을 조기에 식별하는 데 어떻게 기여할 수 있는지 평가하는 것을 목표로 합니다. PacBio HiFi WGS 기술은 기존 선별 방법에 비해 매우 정확한 유전체 데이터를 생성하며, 일반적으로 짧은 리드 방식으로 접근하기 어려운 영역도 포함하고, 동시에 후생유전체 정보도 함께 포착합니다.
이 이니셔티브는 태국을 인구 규모 유전체학 분야의 지역 리더로 자리매김하게 하며, 아시아 태평양 지역이 글로벌 유전체학에서 점점 더 큰 영향력을 갖고 있음을 보여줍니다. 이 프로젝트는 유전체 신생아 선별을 위한 확장 가능한 연구 모델을 구축하여, 선별 프로그램을 현대화하려는 다른 국가들에게 청사진이 될 수 있습니다.
PacBio (PACB) et l'Université Chulalongkorn ont annoncé une collaboration stratégique pour mettre en œuvre le séquençage génomique complet PacBio HiFi (WGS) dans un programme de dépistage néonatal en Thaïlande. Il s'agit de la première initiative en Asie-Pacifique à utiliser la technologie de séquençage HiFi de PacBio à l'échelle de la population.
Cette collaboration vise à évaluer comment des données génomiques complètes peuvent favoriser une identification plus précoce des maladies rares et traitables chez les nouveau-nés. La technologie PacBio HiFi WGS offre des avantages par rapport aux méthodes de dépistage traditionnelles en générant des données génomiques très précises, y compris des régions généralement inaccessibles aux méthodes de séquençage à lecture courte, tout en capturant parallèlement des informations épigénomiques.
Cette initiative positionne la Thaïlande comme un leader régional en génomique à l'échelle de la population et illustre l'influence croissante de la région Asie-Pacifique dans la génomique mondiale. Le projet vise à établir un modèle de recherche évolutif pour le dépistage génomique néonatal, pouvant servir de référence pour d'autres pays souhaitant moderniser leurs programmes de dépistage.
PacBio (PACB) und die Chulalongkorn Universität haben eine strategische Zusammenarbeit angekündigt, um die PacBio HiFi Ganzgenomsequenzierung (WGS) in einem Neugeborenen-Screening-Forschungsprogramm in Thailand einzuführen. Dies ist die erste Initiative im asiatisch-pazifischen Raum, die PacBios HiFi-Sequenzierungstechnologie in großem Maßstab einsetzt.
Die Zusammenarbeit zielt darauf ab, zu bewerten, wie umfassende Genomdaten eine frühere Erkennung seltener und behandelbarer Erkrankungen bei Neugeborenen unterstützen können. Die PacBio HiFi WGS-Technologie bietet Vorteile gegenüber herkömmlichen Screening-Methoden, indem sie hochpräzise Genomdaten erzeugt, einschließlich Regionen, die mit Kurzlese-Methoden normalerweise nicht zugänglich sind, und gleichzeitig epigenomische Informationen erfasst.
Diese Initiative positioniert Thailand als regionalen Vorreiter in der Genomik auf Bevölkerungsebene und zeigt den wachsenden Einfluss der Asien-Pazifik-Region in der globalen Genomforschung. Das Projekt zielt darauf ab, ein skalierbares Forschungsmodell für genomisches Neugeborenen-Screening zu etablieren, das als Vorlage für andere Länder dienen könnte, die ihre Screening-Programme modernisieren wollen.
- First-mover advantage in implementing population-scale HiFi sequencing in Asia Pacific
- Strategic expansion into the newborn screening market, opening new revenue opportunities
- Partnership with a leading national institution strengthens market presence in Thailand
- Technology demonstrates superior capabilities over traditional screening methods
- Research program status implies revenue impact may not be immediate
- Implementation costs and scalability challenges in a developing market
Insights
PacBio's HiFi sequencing deployment in Thailand's newborn screening program showcases superior variant detection capabilities, potentially revolutionizing early genetic diagnosis.
This landmark collaboration represents the first application of HiFi whole genome sequencing in population-scale newborn screening across Asia Pacific. The technological significance cannot be overstated. Unlike traditional targeted screening panels that detect only a limited subset of conditions, PacBio's long-read HiFi technology captures comprehensive genomic information with remarkable accuracy.
The key technical advantage lies in HiFi sequencing's unique ability to resolve structural variants and repeat expansions that conventional short-read methods frequently miss. These complex genetic elements are implicated in numerous rare pediatric disorders that currently go undetected at birth. Additionally, HiFi sequencing simultaneously captures epigenomic information without requiring separate assays, providing multi-dimensional insights from a single test.
For newborn screening specifically, this approach represents a paradigm shift from the targeted biochemical and molecular tests that have remained largely unchanged for decades. By generating complete genomic profiles at birth, clinicians gain unprecedented diagnostic capabilities for early intervention in treatable genetic conditions.
The implementation in Thailand will serve as a critical validation of HiFi sequencing in a healthcare context, testing both its analytical performance and practical feasibility in a population health setting. Success here could establish a new global standard for comprehensive genetic evaluation at birth, fundamentally transforming our approach to early-life disease detection.
PacBio strategically enters Asia's clinical genomics market through Thai newborn screening program, establishing foothold for regional expansion and recurring revenue.
This collaboration represents a significant strategic milestone for PacBio, marking their entry into the high-potential Asia Pacific clinical genomics market. By partnering with Thailand's Chulalongkorn University on newborn screening research, PacBio establishes a showcase implementation that could influence adoption decisions throughout the region.
The newborn screening application is particularly valuable from a business perspective. Unlike episodic genetic testing, population screening programs provide sustainable, recurring demand as each new birth cohort requires evaluation. While initially framed as research, successful demonstration could drive transition into standard clinical practice, creating predictable long-term revenue streams through both instrument placements and consumable sales.
This initiative aligns perfectly with PacBio's broader strategic pivot toward clinical applications under CEO Christian Henry's leadership. After historically focusing on research markets, the company has systematically expanded into healthcare applications where long-read sequencing offers distinct advantages.
From a competitive standpoint, this implementation differentiates PacBio's technology in the sequencing marketplace by highlighting applications where HiFi sequencing's comprehensive variant detection capabilities address limitations of dominant short-read platforms. By positioning their technology as enabling previously impossible insights in newborn health, PacBio strengthens their value proposition in the
Though financial terms remain undisclosed, this partnership represents meaningful progress in expanding PacBio's addressable market and validating their technology in healthcare settings with population-scale potential.
Collaboration leverages HiFi’s unique ability to reveal hidden variants, bringing a new level of precision to early life genetic screening
MENLO PARK, Calif. and BANGKOK, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PacBio (Nasdaq: PACB) a leading provider of high-quality, highly accurate sequencing platforms, and Chulalongkorn University, a national leader in genomic and translational research, today announced a strategic collaboration to implement PacBio HiFi whole genome sequencing (WGS) as part of a newborn screening research program. This marks the first initiative in Asia Pacific to explore the use of PacBio’s HiFi sequencing technology at population scale - an effort designed to evaluate how comprehensive genomic data can support earlier, more accurate identification of rare and treatable conditions in newborns. The collaboration highlights Thailand’s growing leadership in precision medicine and offers a potential model for countries seeking to modernize newborn screening with genome-wide approaches.
“Our shared goal is to establish a robust and scalable research model for genomic newborn screening that helps uncover the genetic basis of undiagnosed conditions from birth,” said Professor Vorasuk Shotelersuk from the Center of Excellence for Medical Genomics, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. “We are excited to work with PacBio to bring this vision closer to reality for families in Thailand.”
Traditional newborn screening programs have relied on targeted panels that detect a limited subset of conditions based on specific molecular pathologies. Recent advances in genome sequencing now make it possible to take a broader, more comprehensive approach, starting at birth. PacBio’s HiFi WGS leverages long-read technology to generate highly accurate, complete genomic data, including regions that are typically inaccessible to short-read methods. In addition to resolving structural variants and repeat expansions, HiFi WGS captures epigenomic information in parallel, giving researchers a multidimensional view of the genome. This level of detail opens the door to identifying a wider range of genetic variants, many of which are implicated in early-onset and rare diseases that previously went undetected.
“Every child deserves the best possible start to life, and that begins with giving families and clinicians access to comprehensive genomic information from the very beginning,” said Christian Henry, President and Chief Executive Officer of PacBio. “This collaboration demonstrates how advanced sequencing technologies like HiFi can enable broader insights at birth. It’s deeply aligned with our mission at PacBio to make high-quality genomic information accessible where it’s needed most, and we’re proud to support Chulalongkorn University and Thailand as they lead the way in laying the foundation for a new model of care.”
This collaboration positions Thailand as a regional leader in population-scale genomics and reflects Asia Pacific’s expanding influence in the global genomics landscape. With an established foundation in public health and translational research, Thailand is uniquely prepared to explore how whole genome sequencing can enhance national healthcare strategies, beginning with newborn screening. By applying PacBio’s HiFi long-read sequencing to this early-stage initiative, researchers gain a more comprehensive view of the genome, enabling the detection of variants that are often missed by traditional methods. The ability to capture a wider spectrum of genetic risk at birth sets a new benchmark for the potential of early disease detection, while also contributing to broader goals in carrier screening and public health planning. For Thailand, this project strengthens its role in advancing precision medicine and lays critical groundwork for future data-sharing frameworks and cross-border research collaborations that can inform more equitable and effective genomic healthcare worldwide.
About PacBio
PacBio (NASDAQ: PACB) is a premier life science technology company that designs, develops, and manufactures advanced sequencing solutions to help scientists and clinical researchers resolve genetically complex problems. Our products and technologies stem from two highly differentiated core technologies focused on accuracy, quality and completeness which include our HiFi long-read sequencing and our SBB® short-read sequencing technologies. Our products address solutions across a broad set of research applications including human germline sequencing, plant and animal sciences, infectious disease and microbiology, oncology, and other emerging applications.
For more information, please visit www.pacb.com and follow @PacBio.
PacBio products are provided for Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
About Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University in Thailand
Chulalongkorn University is the oldest national university in the Kingdom of Thailand. The university has been active in international research activities and is committed to creating knowledge and innovation to transform Thai society into a creative and sustainable future. As part of the university’s mission is to contribute the knowledge gained to the sustainable development of the country and society, the Faculty of Medicine is also actively involved in sharing knowledge with society through collaboration between industry, government, and academia.
Website：https://www.md.chula.ac.th/en/
Facebook：https://www.facebook.com/MDCU.chulalongkornuniversity
Linkedin：https://www.linkedin.com/school/chulalongkornuniversity
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the uses, advantages, quality or performance of, the benefits or expected benefits of using, PacBio products or technologies, including in connection with Thailand’s efforts to integrate PacBio products into newborn screening; establishing a research model that may uncover the genetic basis of undiagnosed conditions, improve outcomes, ease uncertainty or offer answers earlier, and other future events. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they are subject to assumptions, risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from currently anticipated results. These risks include, but are not limited to, risks inherent in developing and commercializing new technologies; rapidly changing technologies and extensive competition in genomic sequencing; unanticipated increases in costs or expenses; interruptions or delays in the supply of components or materials for, or manufacturing of, PacBio products and products under development; third-party claims alleging infringement of patents and proprietary rights or seeking to invalidate PacBio's patents or proprietary rights; and other risks associated with general macroeconomic conditions and geopolitical instability. Additional factors that could materially affect actual results can be found in PacBio's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including PacBio's most recent reports on Forms 8-K, 10-K, and 10-Q, and include those listed under the caption “Risk Factors.” These forward-looking statements, including PacBio’s preliminary unaudited financial information and PacBio’s financial guidance, are based on current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof; except as required by law, PacBio disclaims any obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances in the future, even if new information becomes available.
Contacts (PacBio)
Investors:
Todd Friedman
ir@pacificbiosciences.com
Media:
pr@pacificbiosciences.com
Contacts (Chulalongkorn University)
Media:
prmdcu@gmail.com
FAQ
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