CiRA, A*STAR and global partners launch i2PARADIGM to advance personalised genomic medicine
MEDIA RELEASE
A*STAR and global partners launch i2PARADIGM to advance personalised genomic medicine
Five-year international programme brings together partners from Japan, Singapore, Belgium, Canada and Switzerland to strengthen research and talent development in iPS cell technologies, cell and gene therapy, genomic medicine and regenerative applications
Kyoto University’s Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), together with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), imec, McGill University, and the University of Zurich, has launched the International Interdisciplinary Program for Advanced Regenerative Applications and Design of Individualized Genomic Medicine, or i2PARADIGM.
Supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Core-to-Core Program, alongside matching support and resources contributed by core partner institutions, i2PARADIGM is a five-year international research and training programme that brings together leading institutions from Japan, Singapore, Belgium, Canada and Switzerland. The programme aims to advance personalised genomic medicine by combining complementary strengths in iPS cell technology, genome analysis and engineering, cell and molecular engineering, tissue engineering, nanoelectronics and microfabrication.
Personalised genomic medicine seeks to move healthcare beyond a one-size-fits-all model by taking into account each patient’s genetic profile, disease biology and likely response to treatment. This approach is particularly relevant to areas such as rare diseases, cell and gene therapy, mRNA- and protein-based therapeutics, disease modelling and regenerative medicine.
Through i2PARADIGM, the partner institutions will work together to develop new tools, technologies and research models that could support more precise approaches to disease understanding, therapeutic development and future regenerative applications. The programme will also support the development of early-career researchers through international exchanges, joint projects, seminars, symposia and workshops.
Each core partner will contribute distinct and complementary capabilities to the programme. CiRA will contribute expertise in cellular reprogramming, differentiation and iPS cell technologies. A*STAR will contribute capabilities in cell and gene therapy, cell and biomolecular engineering, and genome biology. McGill University, through the DNA to RNA (D2R) Initiative, will contribute expertise in genome analysis and engineering. The University of Zurich will contribute tissue engineering expertise for advanced disease modelling and transplantation research, while imec will contribute expertise in nanoelectronics and microfabrication to support advanced diagnostic and cell manipulation tools.
Beyond research collaboration, i2PARADIGM will help build interdisciplinary capabilities across the international network. Researchers and trainees will have opportunities to work across institutional and national boundaries, bringing together expertise from biology, engineering, medicine, data science and ethics to support the development of future approaches in personalised genomic medicine.
The programme will also examine ethical, legal and social issues associated with personalised genomic medicine, including informed consent, genomic data privacy and security, potential genetic discrimination, and equitable access to testing and treatment.
“Personalised genomic medicine requires deep scientific capabilities and close collaboration across disciplines and borders. Through i2PARADIGM, A*STAR will contribute Singapore’s strengths in cell and gene therapy, cell and molecular engineering, and genome biology to support the development of future approaches that could enable more precise, effective and accessible healthcare,” said Associate Professor Adrian Teo, Lead Principal Investigator of i2PARADIGM and Senior Principal Investigator, A*STAR IMCB.
More information about i2PARADIGM is available on the programme website: [https://i2paradigm.cira.kyoto-u.ac.jp/].