On October 9, BGI Group hosted the “Empowering Discovery to Impact: Vietnam Omics Forum 2026” in Ninh Binh, Vietnam, bringing together more than 160 professionals from Vietnam’s clinical, research and industry communities. The forum focused on the latest advances and applications of multi-omics technologies across genomics, clinical research, forensic science, public health and agricultural genomics.
Speakers and participants gather for a group photo at the “Empowering Discovery to Impact: Vietnam Omics Forum 2026” in Ninh Binh, Vietnam.
Jeremy Sujie Cao, General Manager of Asia-Pacific at BGI Genomics, delivered the welcome remarks. In his address, Jeremy highlighted BGI Group’s long-term commitment to supporting clinical and research partners in Vietnam through advanced multi-omics technologies and localized collaboration. Dr. Siqi Liu, Co-founder of BGI Group, delivered the opening remarks.
Dr. Siqi Liu delivers the opening remarks.
Jeremy Sujie Cao delivers welcome remarks.
The forum featured a series of expert presentations covering reproductive health, rare diseases, oncology, infectious disease genomics, forensic applications, public health, and herbal medicine quality control and gene therapy.
Dr. Siqi Liu shares a phenotype-based thalassemia carrier identification method using LC-MS/MS.
In the genomics and clinical research session, Dr. Siqi Liu shared a phenotype-based thalassemia carrier identification method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, or LC-MS/MS. By targeting compensatory globin subunits that are difficult to capture through conventional hematology and electrophoresis methods, the approach can significantly improve the sensitivity of identifying silent alpha-thalassemia and beta-plus thalassemia carriers, addressing a key screening challenge in regions of Vietnam with a high prevalence of thalassemia.
Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Tu presents Vietnam’s congenital anomaly situation and introduces a comprehensive genetic diagnosis pathway for prenatal screening and inherited disease diagnosis.
In the reproductive health and neonatal disease session, Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Tu from Genolife presented an overview of the current situation of congenital anomalies in Vietnam. According to the report, more than 40,000 newborns in Vietnam are affected each year. Dr. Tu also introduced a comprehensive genetic diagnosis pathway spanning non-invasive prenatal testing, CNV-seq and whole-exome sequencing for family trios, demonstrating the value of multi-level genetic testing technologies in birth defect screening and inherited disease diagnosis.
Dr. Nguyen Phuoc Dung presents a study on the RB1 mutation spectrum in Vietnamese patients with retinoblastoma.
Dr. Nguyen Phuoc Dung from Hanoi Medical University presented a study on the RB1 mutation spectrum in 106 Vietnamese patients with retinoblastoma. Using BGI whole-exome sequencing, the study identified 48 mutations, including eight novel variants that had not previously been reported in global databases. The research also found that 33.9% of patients carried germline mutations, underscoring the importance of genetic testing and genetic counseling in the clinical management of retinoblastoma in Vietnam.
Professor Jeong Seok Lee speaks on the clinical utility of whole-genome sequencing in precision cancer treatment.
In the precision oncology session, Professor Jeong Seok Lee, Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Inocras, was invited to deliver a presentation. He provided a comprehensive discussion on the clinical utility of whole-genome sequencing in precision cancer treatment. The presentation noted that WGS offers significant incremental value in detecting actionable oncology biomarkers, delivering key clinical insights for more than 70% of patients with solid tumors and accelerating the advancement of precision medicine toward a new level of personalized diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Luu Phuc Loi presents the application of low-depth whole-genome sequencing in genomic profiling of the Vietnamese population.
In the session on forensic science, agricultural genomics and public health, Dr. Luu Phuc Loi from Thong Nhat Hospital reported on the application of low-depth whole-genome sequencing in genomic profiling of the Vietnamese population.
Dr. Vo Ngoc Linh Giang presents the value of DNA super-barcoding in herbal medicine quality control.
Dr. Vo Ngoc Linh Giang from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City highlighted the value of DNA super-barcoding in herbal medicine quality control, using Vietnamese ginseng and saffron authentication as examples.
Dr. Chao Liu presents progress on Hemo-Cel gene therapy for beta-thalassemia and its global implementation model, SPARK.
Dr. Chao Liu, CEO of Hemogen Therapeutics, shared progress on Hemo-Cel, a gene therapy for beta-thalassemia, as well as its global implementation model, SPARK. Vietnam has a high prevalence of thalassemia, and Hemo-Cel uses a lentiviral vector to introduce a corrective gene into a patient’s own hematopoietic stem cells. Current trials have achieved a 100% treatment response rate, with more than 90% of patients becoming transfusion-independent. Hemogen’s SPARK model, covering standardized services, integrated platforms, ready-to-use kits, regulatory-ready systems and continuous innovation support, is designed to enable localized and replicable global delivery of gene therapy.
Lai Kim Phuong introduces BGI’s clinical solution portfolio designed to support healthcare needs in the Vietnamese market.
Dr. Guangxin Yu presents the PMSEQ infectious disease testing solution and its AI-assisted interpretation system, PMAID.
The forum also showcased BGI’s broader clinical solution portfolio for the Vietnamese market. Lai Kim Phuong from BGI Genomics introduced a range of clinical solutions designed to support local healthcare needs. In pathogen detection, Dr. Guangxin Yu from BGI Genomics presented the PMSEQ infectious disease testing solution and its AI-assisted interpretation system, PMAID, which has achieved a 96.5% interpretation accuracy rate across more than 100,000 reports.
BGI Group will continue to deepen multi-omics collaboration in Vietnam, working closely with local partners across reproductive health, precision oncology, public health, forensic science and agricultural genomics. Through practical tools, integrated solutions and localized support, BGI Group aims to further empower Vietnam’s clinical and research communities and accelerate the translation of scientific discovery into real-world impact.