Asian Genomics Forum: Impact on Health and Beyond

On 8 September 2025, the School of Science, in collaboration with Absolute Genetic Technologies (AGT), hosted the Asian Genomics Forum, an event focused on the evolving role of genomics and its impact on health across Asia. The forum brought together researchers, academics, industry professionals, and students to discuss recent advancements and the application of genomics in personalised healthcare and pharmacogenomics.

Leaders and learners united at the Asian Genomics Forum: Impact on Health and Beyond.

The event opened with a welcoming address by Professor Emily Goh Joo Kheng, Head of School, who outlined the School’s commitment to advancing research, emphasised the significance of genomics in addressing health challenges, and encouraged active engagement and collaboration.

The forum featured three distinguished keynote speakers: Professor Qasim Ayub, Professor of Genomics and Director of the Monash University Malaysia Genomics Platform (MUMGP) at the School of Science; Professor Liu Jianjun, Co-founder of AGT and Principal Scientist at the Genome Institute of Singapore; and Professor Teh Lay Kek, Professor of Pharmacy and Deputy Director of the Integrative Pharmacogenomics Institute at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). Their presentations highlighted important research and the role of genomics in advancing personalised medicine, with a focus on breakthroughs in population genomics, genetic risk profiling, and pharmacogenomics. The speakers also emphasised the role of industry in translating scientific discoveries into clinical applications and diagnostic tools, while noting how the collective contributions of academia and industry may influence future policies.

Distinguished keynote speakers engaging with the audience during a lively Q&A session. From left to right: Professor Liu Jianjun, Professor Teh Lay Kek, and Professor Qasim Ayub.

A lively Q&A session followed, during which attendees engaged directly with the speakers to explore practical implications and discuss future directions in genomics research. The exchange of ideas highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of applying genomics in real-world healthcare solutions.

In his closing remarks, Dr Yeong Keng Yoon, Associate Head of School (Industry Engagement and Enterprising), summarised the key discussions of the day and reaffirmed the School’s commitment to advancing genomics through collaboration, research excellence, and knowledge sharing.

The event concluded with a guided tour of MUMGP at the School of Science, led by Professor Qasim Ayub. Overall, the forum served as both a platform for scientific exchange and a catalyst for future collaboration, contributing to regional efforts to develop a more personalised, data-driven approach to healthcare.