Connecting Genomic Data of 20,000 People into 'Big Data'

▲Genome Analysis Map

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] A project to compile clinical information and genomic data from more than 20,000 people into big data will begin this year. A total of 15 billion KRW will be invested by next year to build the big data, which will be used as reference data for research and diagnosis of rare disease patients in industry, academia, research institutes, and hospitals. The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 22nd that it will promote a national bio big data construction pilot project together with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The government will collect bio data over two years until next year. It will recruit about 10,000 rare disease patients and add information from the Ulsan 10,000 Genomes Project. Then, clinical information such as disease names, family history, and treatment information, as well as genomic data including whole genome sequencing and mutation analysis, will be collected.

For rare disease information, 16 rare disease cooperation institutions nationwide will be designated to collect clinical information and specimens with patient consent. Projects that have already secured clinical information or genomic data will form a 'Leading Project Expert Committee' to establish linkage criteria with this project and integrate the data.

The collected clinical information and generated genomic data will be utilized by institutions such as the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the National BioResource Information Center (KOBIC), and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI).

The government supports the localization of materials, parts, and equipment related to genomic data analysis, which currently depends on overseas sources, as well as the development of new drugs and medical device products. It will also be used to expand related services such as digital health devices linked to personal health information.

To alleviate concerns about personal information leakage due to the collection of sensitive clinical and genomic data, thorough data management will be ensured by assigning individual IDs at the collection and production stages and establishing a closed network.

Song Siyoung, chairman of the National Bio Big Data Construction Pilot Project Promotion Committee, stated, "The construction of bio big data is expected to provide medical services based on precision medicine and facilitate new drug development," adding, "We will establish the main project construction plan through pilot project performance evaluation and broad consultation with experts from various fields."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.