SHENZHEN, China, June 20, 2019 – MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (MGI) and Centre for Translational Microbiome Research (CTMR) at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm today announced a strategy collaboration in microbiome research and initiated the 10,000 Metagenomics Project as phase one project. The joint-research project is leading by Professor Lars Engstrand and Professor Mathias Uhlén, supporting by Karolinska Institutet and Ferring Pharmaceuticals, using MGI’s DNBSEQ^TM technology to generate high quality shotgun metagenomics data from one of the largest microbiome biobanks. The collaboration will form a solid foundation for understanding the contribution of the microbiome to normal physiology and pathophysiology, and opens opportunities for development of novel therapies to address gastroenterology, cancer, reproductive health and neonatology.

The human microbiome, in contrast, is much more easily changed through simple means such as healthful probiotic cultures, bacteriotherapy and other lifestyle interventions. Up to 20 percent of the small molecules in our bloodstream appear to be synthesized by microbes. The microbiome thus may provide some of the most important medical breakthroughs of our era e.g. the human microbiome may be as important to our health as the human genome. The long-term objective of CTMR is to identify and characterize factors (both microbial and host related) that determine or modify the excess risk of disease outcome e.g. to determine the relationship between human health and changes in our gut microbiome. “We have implemented the 16S sequencing approach in a high-throughput NGS format, but we are now moving this research forward by upgrading to shotgun metagenomics sequencing with MGI’s sequencing system and pipelines. We have benchmarked MGI’s DNBSEQ^TM technology with other technologies, and we are excited with the quality of MGI’s platform, and this is exactly what we need,” said Professor Lars Engstrand.

Mr. Duncan Yu, President of MGI, said, “MGI's advanced technology enables high-throughput next generation sequencing to support life science research, medicine and healthcare. We are delighted to collaborate with Karolinska Institutet CTMR to have a deep understanding of microbiome’s contribution in human health. We expect our joint efforts could yield more achievements to significantly promote the approach of microbiome in precision medicine.”

About MGI

MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (MGI) is committed to enabling effective and affordable healthcare solutions for all. Based on its proprietary technology, MGI produces sequencing devices, equipment, consumables and reagents to support life science research, medicine and healthcare. MGI’s multi-omics platforms include genetic sequencing, mass spectrometry and medical imaging. Providing real-time, comprehensive, life-long solutions, its mission is to develop and promote advanced life science tools for future healthcare.

About the Centre for Translational Microbiome Research (CTMR)

The CTMR started in January 2016 as a collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and Ferring Pharmaceuticals. The center builds on a deep understanding of translational microbiome research and has established a broad technical, biological, clinical and epidemiological platform for studying complex microbiological communities in well-defined human materials. CTMR aims to better understand the contribution of the human microbiome to physiology and pathophysiology with the goal to open opportunities for development of novel therapies in the area of gastroenterology, cancer, reproductive health and neonatology.

Media Contacts:

Vivien Yang Swartz

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vivien.yang.swartz@genomics.cn

MGI Tech Co., Ltd.

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518083 Shenzhen, China

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