The Minister of Higher Education testifies "Announcement of developments in the reference genome project for Egyptians and ancient Egyptians"

  Shahad Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the activities of the celebration organized by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, on the occasion of “The Third Genome Day and the announcement of developments in the reference genome project for Egyptians and ancient Egyptians,” in the presence of Dr. Muhammad Awad Taj El-Din, Advisor to the President of the Republic for Health and Prevention Affairs, and Dr. Hossam Othman, Deputy Minister for Innovation, Artificial Intelligence and Scientific Research, and Dr. Hassan Abdullah, President of the University of East London, and Dr. Gina El-Feki, Acting President of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, and Major General Dr. Mohammed Al-Gohary, Executive Director of the Center for Medical Research and Regenerative Medicine for the Armed Forces.

In the presence of Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, on behalf of Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health, Greg Gonzalez, Director of Illumina in the Middle East, and Major General Dr. Khaled Amer, the principal researcher for the Egyptian Genome Project, members of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Genome Project, and heads and members of the Scientific Committee of the Project, at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.  

At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. welcomed. Ayman Ashour thanked all the participants in this event in which we celebrate the achievements of an ambitious national project, which is the “Reference Genome Project for Egyptians and Ancient Egyptians,” explaining that the project, which was launched in March 2021 under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, represents a nucleus for personalized and precision medicine in Egypt, and a step to strengthen our scientific and regional leadership.

Stressing that the Ministry, through the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, assumed scientific and technical supervision of the project. And coordinating the efforts of all partners, praising the role of the Center for Medical Research and Regenerative Medicine for the Armed Forces, and appreciating the efforts of all contributors from the beginning, led by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population.  

The Minister of Higher Education indicated that previous achievements confirm the feasibility of investing in science, explaining that the National Genome Project is proceeding along four main tracks, namely: the population genome, the genome of rare diseases, the sports genome, and the genome of the ancient Egyptians.

While work is underway to add a fifth track to study the genomes of geniuses and innovators, explaining that by 2027 we aim to collect and analyze 25,000 samples to build the largest genetic database for Egyptians. For practical applications in accurate diagnosis, personalized treatment, and disease prevention, while strengthening the technological infrastructure, training young cadres, and building national research capabilities.  

Dr. confirmed. Ayman Ashour said that the Egyptian Genome Project is not just scientific research, but rather an investment in the health of Egyptians, and a restoration of Egypt’s leadership in biological sciences. He valued the partnership between ministries, universities, and research centers, and thanked everyone who contributed to the success of the project and looked forward to more achievements under this unified national work.  

For his part, Dr. Mohamed Awad Taj El-Din, the stages of establishing the project, explaining that it was launched from the National Center for Medical Research at the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, and that the genetic map is closely linked to the reality of society and its health needs.

 He pointed to the state of prosperity in interest in health care and education during the era of President Sisi, who gave the genome project a special priority, and supported it by financing one billion pounds with close follow-up of its stages, which contributed to its progress, also praising the follow-up of the Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Ayman Ashour, and the efforts Center for Medical Research and Regenerative Medicine for the Armed Forces in completing the project.

  For her part, Dr. confirmed. Gina El-Feki said that the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology is proud to launch the “Reference Genome for Egyptians and Ancient Egyptians” project, considering it a turning point that places Egypt at the forefront globally in genomics and precision medicine.

 She stressed the role of the Academy in driving development through scientific projects that directly affect the health of citizens and the country’s economy, noting that the Academy provided scientific and technical supervision and the necessary funding, while coordinating efforts among all partners, starting with the Center for Medical Research and Regenerative Medicine, Passing through universities and research centers, all the way to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.

 Confirming that the academy has allocated more than one billion pounds to finance the project over a period of five years, with an ambitious plan to sequence 25,000 Egyptian genomes, establish the National Genome Center, develop advanced biobanks, and build qualified young cadres to lead the future of personalized medicine in Egypt.  

Dr. explained. Gina El-Feki said that what has been achieved so far is an important step towards the future, stressing that what we see today is the beginning of a path that enables every citizen to obtain accurate treatment according to his genetic fingerprint, and places Egypt in a pioneering position for biosciences in Africa and the Middle East, praising the efforts of scientists, researchers and partners, and thanking the Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Ayman Ashour for his great support and continuous follow-up of the genome project, stressing that the Academy will continue to support this project to achieve Egypt’s Vision 2030 and build a new republic based on science and knowledge.  

For his part, Major General Dr. Mohamed El Gohary, Executive Director of the Center for Medical Research and Regenerative Medicine of the Armed Forces, said that the Genome Project is a giant project sponsored by the President of the Republic, led by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and implemented in a successful partnership between the Academy of Scientific Research and the Center for Medical Research and Regenerative Medicine in the Armed Forces, which is embracing the project on the ground. He explained that the project is based on four main axes: (population genome, rare disease genome, sports genome, and the genome of the ancient Egyptians).

 And these efforts have paid off. About publishing research in international journals classified as Q1, with promising outcomes that will appear successively, praising the great role in building young Egyptian cadres within the center, thanking the Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Ayman Ashour, scientists and professors in the scientific committee of the project and the center, stressing that the project will provide results that will enrich medical knowledge in Egypt.  

For his part, Dr. confirmed. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, in his speech on behalf of Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, said that the Egyptian Genome Project represents a national achievement that will change the face of medicine in Egypt, as the first genetic map for the Egyptian citizen, and one of the most prominent genome projects in the world, explaining that the project allows the application of precision medicine to determine the most appropriate medicines and doses for each patient, early detection and prevention of chronic and serious diseases, and the elimination of rare genetic diseases.

 In addition to localizing the pharmaceutical industry according to the genetic needs of Egyptians, and enhancing the status of Scientific Egypt is globally recognized with a huge database, stressing that the project is not just scientific research, but rather an investment in the health of the Egyptian people and a historic step towards future medicine, citing President Sisi’s statement: “The project is not for our generation, but rather Egypt’s gift to future generations.”  

For his part, Major General Dr. Khaled Amer, principal investigator of the Egyptian Genome Project, expressed his happiness at participating in the “Third Genome Day” ceremony. In celebration of the four-year anniversary of the launch of the reference project for Egyptians and ancient Egyptians, which President Sisi paid special attention to, and placed it at the top of research projects.

 He thanked the Ministry of Higher Education, the Academy of Scientific Research, the Center for Medical Research and Regenerative Medicine for the Armed Forces, and all participating parties, including ministries, universities, research centers, and civil society organizations, noting that the project aims to study the genetic code of the Egyptian people to support personalized and precise medicine, stressing that the first phase included studying a representative sample, A pilot study consisting of 1,024 samples was conducted, including rare diseases and liver cancer, and its results are being published. He stressed that the project was not limited to establishing laboratories, but rather established a genetic memory for Egypt and opened horizons for the future of medicine, stressing the importance of converting the results into practical application in hospitals.  

On the sidelines of the event, a documentary film about the Egyptian Genome Project was shown, and a panel discussion was held entitled (From Vision to Implementation, the Egyptian Genome Roadmap).

 

 

 

 

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