Today marks the celebration of World Health Day, a significant occasion to commemorate the collective global efforts that have been made to enhance the lives of current and future generations. It also acknowledges the 75 years of remarkable dedication demonstrated by a global organization that unites mankind and strives to make the world a better, healthier place - the World Health Organization (WHO).
Since its establishment in 1948, WHO has been committed to the fundamental goal of "Health for All." This pledge was based on a democratic belief that all individuals are equal and that health is a fundamental right for everyone, providing the foundation for peace and security. This declaration served as a beacon of hope, illuminating a world devastated by the aftermath of the Second World War.
For more than seven decades, WHO has remained steadfast in its mission to lead the way in improving social conditions so that people can lead healthy lives from birth to old age.
Among its many critical agendas, WHO has been working tirelessly to alleviate deadly diseases and protect people from pandemics. Thanks to true global cooperation, WHO declared smallpox eradicated in 1980, a highly contagious and deadly disease that had claimed an estimated 300 million lives in the 20th century alone. WHO has been at the forefront of all major public health emergencies over the past 75 years. In 2020-2021, WHO responded to 87 health emergencies, in addition to COVID-19.
WHO's success in safeguarding the world in the most challenging of times is only possible through the access and sharing of data and scientific advances across the world. This requires support from all sectors, including global organizations in science and healthcare, such as BGI Group.
Founded in 1999, BGI was established to participate in the Human Genome Project, a groundbreaking global scientific collaboration aimed at exploring and understanding human life. The technology and knowledge gained from the Human Genome Project and other significant discoveries was applied to improving global public health.
BGI has been a front-runner in providing rapid and effective responses to numerous public health emergencies worldwide. For example, during the SARS outbreak in 2003, BGI was able to sequence the whole genome of four SARS virus strains in China within just 36 hours and developed a test kit in 96 hours. The organization also donated 300,000 SARS virus test kits to aid in the prevention and control of the pandemic.
Similarly, in 2011, BGI responded to EHEC outbreaks in Germany by completing the genome sequencing of the pathogen in just five days and was first to announce the sequencing result to the world. The organization was also able to develop a diagnostic kit within ten days and shared the core technology publicly for free.
During the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014, BGI demonstrated its commitment to global public health by providing free sequencing equipment, quickly building an Ebola virus mutation monitoring platform in Sierra Leone, and assisting the China Disease Control team in testing virus samples and providing technical support and training. BGI also successfully developed the Ebola rapid detection reagent, which has greatly contributed to local epidemic prevention and control efforts.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, BGI Group responded swiftly and engaged in the fight against the virus at an early stage by assembling an elite task force to participate in SARS-CoV-2-related research. The group was able to develop the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection kit and supply automated and high-throughput testing equipment. BGI Group believed that accurate detection and diagnosis were as crucial as clinical treatment in the fight against the pandemic.
To meet the demand for large-scale COVID testing, BGI Group constructed the first "Huo-Yan" Laboratory in just ten days with a daily throughput of more than 10,000 samples. The laboratory has since been deployed globally, with over 100 "Huo-Yan" Laboratories established in more than 30 countries and regions. BGI Group also provided training and technical support to local laboratories to advance their testing capabilities, drawing from its extensive experience in pandemic prevention and control.
In addition to providing advanced technology and equipment, BGI Group donated over 40,000 COVID detection kits to nearly 40 countries and organizations, and assisted six countries in upgrading their COVID testing laboratories. These international assistance efforts have been recognized by the WHO.
“When a health emergency strikes, BGI has a duty to be the first in line to provide help,” said Wang Jian, Co-founder and Chairman of BGI Group.
In addition to the contribution to the pandemic, public health is another key area that BGI Group focuses on. The group provides hospitals, clinics, and individuals with a full range of early-prevention health programs for reproductive health, cancer prevention and treatment, and infectious disease.
In November 2020, WHO launched the Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, calling on 194 countries to work together to end the suffering caused by cervical cancer, which is preventable and curable. BGI Group has been actively working towards this goal by offering cutting-edge genomics testing services. As of December 2022, more than 6.6 million cases have been tested using BGI's HPV genotyping test.
WHO has emphasized the crucial role of science and innovation in achieving the remarkable health achievements of the past decades. With the increasing impact of technology in the 21st century, science and innovation remain critical guide for the work of the WHO. Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, WHO's Chief Scientist, emphasized the significance of genomics as a key technology in the prevention and treatment of diseases and pathogen surveillance. As our understanding of the potential benefits of genomic technologies continues to grow, it is becoming increasingly clear that genomics will play an ever-more important role in guiding public health initiatives in the 21st century.
Leading with the innovation of cutting-edge genomics technology is what BGI Group strives for. With the ability to produce high-throughput sequencers, the group has significantly reduced the cost of sequencing to less than $100 per genome, making it more accessible to scientific projects and institutions.
BGI Group’s STOmics Stereo-seq technology is capable of detecting over 25,000 genes simultaneously, providing scientists with unprecedented precision to identify changes in all genes. This technology can accurately map a complete catalog of cell types and states for every organ in the body, allowing scientists to create comprehensive physiology atlases. The technology has been successfully applied to cancer research, which helps to classify cancers by gene expression, cell type, and cellular microenvironment, and define each cancer subtype, enabling accurate detection.
The pursuit of "Health for All" remains a vital objective for WHO today, just as it was 75 years ago when the organization was established. WHO regards this as a critical pathway towards achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. This goal is reinforced by the other 16 SDGs, with the aim of accomplishing these by 2030.
This reflects a shared commitment from BGI Group, which is dedicated to the vision of "Omics for All" - involving leveraging omics technologies to enhance human health and well-being. BGI Group is poised to be at the forefront of new advancements in healthcare and contribute towards a healthier, more prosperous future for all.
Source:
WHO’s 7 + 5 health stories for everyone, everywhere
https://www.who.int/campaigns/75-years-of-improving-public-health/stories
WHO: Science in 5/Episode #84 - Future of health
WHO: Launch of the Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer