The lack of representation of Arab ancestry in published genomic studies is hindering the progress of precision medicine worldwide. A recent study found that only 0.17 percent of people in these studies are of Arab ancestry, with 88 percent being of European ancestry. This disparity affects the understanding of prevalent diseases, the development of treatments, the pharmaceutical industry, and innovative disease prevention methods. As a result, people of European origin, who represent a minority among the global population, dominate human genome research.
The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), Qatar Foundation’s global health initiative, will address this issue at its seventh edition in Doha on November 13 and 14, 2024. The theme of the summit is ‘Humanizing Health: Conflict, Equity, and Resilience’, with a focus on the health of vulnerable and minority populations and system-level innovation and change. Precision medicine will play a key role in driving innovation and change at the system level, while also shedding light on the health of minorities who are often excluded from research, particularly genomic studies.
Dr. Radja Badji, Translational Genomics Manager at QF’s Qatar Precision Health Institute (QPHI), highlighted the dominance of Western genomes in research due to historical investments in genetic research infrastructure. However, Arab countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and Jordan have established national genome programs in the past decade. Qatar, in particular, is leading efforts to ensure Arab genomes are better represented in global databases. QPHI, through initiatives like the Qatar Biobank and Qatar Genome Program, is working to recruit a diverse participant base within Qatar and integrate genomic research into national health strategies.
Dr. Badji emphasized the importance of addressing the diversity gap in genomics through strategic initiatives at QPHI. By focusing on recruiting participants from diverse populations in Qatar and integrating genomic research into national health strategies, the institute is working to bridge the gap in representation within global genomic databases. This proactive approach will help improve the understanding of diseases and the development of personalized treatments for all populations, not just those of European ancestry.
The upcoming WISH summit will provide a platform for experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities in genomics and precision medicine, with a focus on improving representation of minority populations in research. By bringing together key stakeholders from around the world, WISH aims to drive meaningful change in the field of healthcare and promote equity and inclusivity in genomic research. The summit will serve as a catalyst for collaboration and innovation in addressing the current disparities in genomic studies and advancing personalized medicine for all populations.
