"I wish to be the first to worry about people’s woes." This is how Wang Jian, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of BGI Group, described his decision to commit BGI to an international humanitarian rescue effort 20 years ago - a decision that would prove pivotal in the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster.

On a fateful day, a major underwater earthquake sent 30-meter-high waves crashing into the coastline of Thailand, swallowing thousands of lives in the blink of an eye. "The situation was very tragic after the Indian Ocean tsunami. Life is very fragile," Wang reflected. Thailand, a hub for international tourists, was in desperate need of identity verification for the victims. As time passed, identifying the deceased became increasingly challenging, compounding the immense sorrow for the grieving families and the international community. "Someone had to take action in this situation," Wang declared.

The day after the tsunami, upon hearing an inquiry from Wang about willingness to volunteer in Thailand, Li Li*, was one of the first to step forward, driven by a sense of duty and the opportunity to utilize her laboratory skills for the greater good. "I signed up in the morning, got the visa in the afternoon, and by evening, I was on my way," Li recounted.

A photo of the DNA identification team from BGI at the site of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Upon surveying the disaster site, Wang knew BGI had to act - BGI decided to offer DNA identification at no cost. "We dared to make such a promise because we knew we had the capacity to fulfill it on our platform," Wang recalled.

"It was initially shocking," but fitting with BGI's core mission, Omics for all. From its inception, BGI was established for the public good, to benefit humanity. When financial resources were limited, the founder and those around him, including employees and their family members, pulled together funds to sustain the institute's scientific endeavors. During the SARS outbreak, BGI donated 300,000 test reagent kits to help with the fight against the epidemic. "So, when you think about it, it's not surprising that Wang made this decision," said Li.

BGI rapidly obtained international DNA identification certification and embarked on a challenging year-and-a-half-long mission. Despite the technological and logistical difficulties of DNA testing at the time, BGI's team, with the aid of global partners including those who had worked on the 9/11 rescue efforts, successfully completed the identification of thousands of victims.

Today, the mission of 'Omics for all' continues. Leveraging over two decades of life science expertise and cutting-edge genomics technology, BGI continues to serve the Thai population in reproductive health, rare disease screening and treatment, tumor prevention, and other healthcare sectors.

"When making decisions, as long as it benefits the people, we should act," Wang stated, embodying a profound sense of responsibility, mission, and conscience. 

This ethos, central to BGI's purpose, affirms that even in the darkest of times, the most profound examples of compassion and unity can emerge, showcasing the indomitable nature of the human spirit.

*Li Li was one of the employees who joined BGI in the early phase of the company. She is currently the Executive Deputy Director of the Administration and Operations Center of BGI Group.