The Human Genome Project, initiated in 1990, was completed in 2003 at an estimated cost of US$2.7 billion with the collaborative efforts of institutions and laboratories in countries including the US, UK, Japan China, Germany and France. Genomic technology has made major impact in the fields of medicine, biotechnology, life sciences, diseases and viruses.
How can genomics help in our battle against COVID-19? Join us for an insightful conversation with Joep de Ligt, Lead Bioinformatics & Genomics from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited. In part one, Joep shares about his role and how genome sequencing can help trace the sources of COVID-19 outbreaks. He also chats with us on his career journey and why he chose to move from the Netherlands to New Zealand.
In part two, we examine the role of technologies like containerization in biological researches and analysis; how genome sequencing at sites of Ebola and Zika outbreaks provides health intelligence; and how is the future better with genome technology.
03:40 – 04:37 Introduction to Lead Bioinformatics and Geonomics
04:38 – 05:51 Joep’s career journey
06:02 – 07:58 Migrating from Netherlands to New Zealand
08:15 – 10:16 How genome sequencing is solving diseases worldwide
10:25 – 14:13 How genome sequencing work
14:24 – 17:54 Progression of COVID-19 and the future of vaccines
17:58 – 20:18 How are governments investing in sequencing to solve health challenges
20:33 – 22:42 Progress of sequencing and how effective is it in managing viruses now