Ron Gutman, inventor, serial healthcare and technology entrepreneur, and Stanford University adjunct professor, discusses the emergence of genomic sequencing as a vital tool in mitigating global public health threats
I’ve always had a great passion for genetics and genomics from the moment I realized genes are the basic building blocks of life itself and that a special, hard-to-decipher programming code governs how they manifest. One of the most exciting things that happened in science in this century, even though it happened in its first year, was the first mapping of the human genome by Graig Venter and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). It opened the door to understanding and helping better lives in ways that could not even be imagined before. I had the pleasure of seeing Craig Venter again recently in San Francisco and discussing his book with him, The Voyage of Sorcerer II: The Expedition That Unlocked the Secrets of the Ocean’s Microbiome.
In this book, Craig details his travels around the world’s seas to conduct deep-water exploration and sequencing and discover new marine species. Venter’s curiosity is exciting and contagious, and I admire both his scientific pursuit and his quest to find valuable applications for his discoveries that can help millions live healthier, happier lives.
The unexpected hero of a global crisis
The story of the COVID-19 pandemic had an unexpectedly similar hero, too: the same genomic sequencing that Ventner pioneered helped us decode the DNA of the virus to understand its playbook and position us in a better way to tackle it. This scientific technique, once relegated to niche academic circles, became a key player in our battle against a worldwide health emergency. The UK, for instance, managed to sequence over 600,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes by early 2021, providing invaluable insights into the virus’s behavior and in Australia, scientists sequenced the virus genome in just 24 hours after receiving a sample, drastically changing our approach to virus tracking. A now well-established and increasingly sophisticated lab procedure became crucial in understanding and combating a virus that brought the world to its knees.
Revolution in the lab
Before COVID-19, sequencing a virus’s genome was long and costly, often taking weeks and costing thousands of dollars for a single genome. During the pandemic, the cost fell to a few hundred dollars per genome, and the time required was shortened to days or even hours. This meant health authorities could track virus mutations quickly and more affordably, a win in our race against the virus.
Global teamwork and its hurdles
International collaboration in genomic pathogen surveillance is crucial for global health security, enabling early detection, monitoring, and control of infectious diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored this importance, with over two million genomic sequences shared via platforms like GISAID, facilitating rapid advancements in diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines. Yet, challenges such as disparities in technological capabilities and hesitancy over data sharing due to political, economic, and privacy concerns can impede these efforts. For example, during the early stages of COVID-19, some countries delayed sharing genomic data, fearing economic impacts or stigmatization.
Despite these obstacles, collaborations like the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) and the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) demonstrate the potential for success. However, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa highlighted the consequences of failures due to delayed international data sharing. Addressing these challenges requires building trust, establishing equitable data-sharing frameworks, and enhancing global health infrastructure to ensure a unified and effective response to future health threats.
Facing future health threats
As we navigate our way toward preparing humanity for future health challenges, genomic sequencing continues evolving with groundbreaking tools and new techniques. Antimicrobial resistance looms large, but the fusion of AI technology and portable sequencing devices is enabling new antibiotics to be discovered.
Imagine AI algorithms that not only decipher genetic codes but also predict a virus’s next move, much like chess masters planning several steps ahead. This isn’t science fiction. It’s the reality of predictive analytics in genomics, which is already showing promise in flu virus research.
In addition, new and exciting portable sequencing technology is maturing and becoming available. Imagine a world where a device no larger than a smartphone, like the Oxford Nanopore MinION, becomes a standard tool in remote regions for real-time disease monitoring. It’s a leap from lab-bound analysis to on-the-ground action, proven effective in tracking Ebola in Africa.
The future of genomic sequencing is swift, smart, and increasingly accessible. It’s about turning data into decisions, science into solutions, and challenges into opportunities to safeguard global health and help billions live healthier, happier, and safer lives.
