DKSH, PacBio, Chulalongkorn University partner to launch ‘LIFE-SEQ’
Asia’s first genomic programme for precision health for newborns, aiming to advance lifelong care through HiFi genome sequencing technology
DKSH Business Unit Technology, a leading market expansion services provider, and PacBio, a global leader in high-accuracy genome sequencing, have partnered with the Centre of Excellence for Medical Genomics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, to launch LIFE-SEQ (Live-long Initiative for Future Excellence through long-read SEQuencing).
The groundbreaking initiative leverages HiFi genome sequencing technology to advance precision health, offering lifelong care from birth, beginning with newborn screening and rare disease detection in Thailand.
With this partnership, DKSH is able to mark a new milestone by bringing HiFi whole-genome sequencing into clinical care in Asia. As the exclusive distributor of PacBio in Thailand, DKSH facilitates access to a PacBio sequencing platform and has provided a team of experts in human genomics.
In the initial phase, trained medical specialists will provide free sequencing for 300 newborns at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine in Bangkok. The next phase will expand the programme to include more newborns nationwide and follow participants across their lifespan.
Ultimately, LIFE-SEQ aims to deliver benefits for people of all ages in Thailand, making cutting-edge genomic healthcare accessible from birth through old age, and advancing precision health for future generations.
HiFi whole genome sequencing helps deliver long, highly accurate DNA reads that provide a complete view of the genome. This enables earlier detection of genetic variants, supporting faster diagnosis, targeted treatment, and ultimately, the potential to save lives.
Beyond individual diagnoses, the programme’s genomic data will be integrated into national research efforts and stored in a structured genomic database to support long-term healthcare planning.
With its Asia-first implementation and nationwide expansion plans, LIFE-SEQ represents a major milestone in Thailand’s journey toward precision health. It allows building evidence-based health policies rooted in the Thai genome, its risk factors, and population-specific traits.
The technology also allows Thailand to position itself in the market as a regional leader in genomics by strengthening research, digital infrastructure, and clinical applications, laying the foundation for personalised, data-driven healthcare.
Professor Vorasuk Shotelersuk, Director of the Centre of Excellence for Medical Genomics at Chulalongkorn University, spoke about the initiative’s overall goal.
“Our shared goal is to determine whether individuals with access to genomic data experience a better quality of life compared to those without, and to evaluate the economic impact of such an approach. We perform long-read whole-genome sequencing from the very start of life.
“The first application is in newborn screening, enabling early identification of genetic causes of otherwise undiagnosed conditions.
“As participants grow, additional benefits emerge, including carrier testing for family planning, detection of actionable genetic variants relevant to cancer and other noncommunicable diseases, and pharmacogenomic insights to guide treatment across the lifespan.”
Kongsak Ermukdakul, Managing Director of DKSH’s Business Unit Technology in Thailand, spoke about the importance of introducing this technology to the country.
“Bringing this technology to Thailand is about making a meaningful difference in how we detect and treat genetic conditions. DKSH is proud to have played a hands-on role in enabling this collaboration, which we believe sets a new benchmark for precision healthcare in the region and helps improve the lives of Thai people.
Christian Henry, PacBio’s President and CEO, spoke on the importance of giving children a chance at a good life.
“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.
“This collaboration demonstrates how advanced sequencing technologies like HiFi can provide broader insights at birth. It is deeply aligned with PacBio’s mission to make high-quality genomic information accessible where it’s needed most, and we are proud to support Chulalongkorn University and Thailand as they lead the way in shaping a new model of care.”
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