On 6^th September 2022, the Azerbaijan Thalassemia Center and BGI Genomics held a virtual signing ceremony to seal a Collaboration Agreement. The partnership aims to improve thalassemia screening in Azerbaijan through genetic technology.

（Attendees from Azerbaijan's thalassemia center: Dr. Khuraman Jafarova, Chief Doctor of Thalassemia Center, vice director of National Hematology and Transfusiology Center; Dr. Afsana Mammadova, Head of Clinical Diagnostics Laboratory, Supervisor of Biochemistry; Dr. Adam Najafli, Head of Cytogenetics Laboratory, Medical Genetics Department; Dr. Agha Rza Aghayev, Head of Medical Genetics Department, Supervisor of Molecular Genetics）

In early 2021, when making a "Prevention and Control of Global Haemoglobinopathies" announcement, BGI Genomics Poverty Prevention and Control Panel clearly stated they seek to export China's advanced technologies for thalassemia to countries along the 'Belt and Road Initiative', to jointly achieve comprehensive thalassemia control in the global community.

 In April 2022, BGI's wholly-owned subsidiary, Huada Biotechnology (Wuhan) Co., Ltd, obtained the medical device registration certificate from the National Drug Administration for its alpha and beta thalassemia gene detection kit (combining probe anchored polymerisation sequencing method).

This agreement was signed by Dr. Valeh Hüseynov, the Executive Director of National Hematology and Transfusiology Center, Dr. Agha Rza Aghayev, the supervisor of Azerbaijan's medical genetics department, and Mr. Jeremy Cao, the Vice President of BGI IntDx. The two organizations have entered a strategic partnership and will work together for thalassemia study research project in the country.

Dr Agha Rza Aghayev, Azerbaijan's medical genetics department supervisor, said: “Thank you BGI Genomics for support and collaboration, I hope this research program will help us to build an effective and well-designed method for screening thalassemia”.

“Azerbaijan is one of the countries with the highest prevalence rate of thalassemia,” said Zhiyu Peng, BGI Genomics Vice President. “Our thalassemia gene detection testing combines cutting-edge high throughput sequencing platform and advantages of low cost and comprehensive detection. It helps scientific research partnership in methodology comparison, enhances new technology collaboration in the clinical testing and explore the screening of thalassemia in Azerbaijan. BGI Genomics also has a world hemoglobinopathy foundation focusing on fighting thalassemia worldwide, our goal is making the world a better place without this disease. BGI Genomics therefore proposes this agreement to reaffirm that we stand together with Azerbaijan's thalassemia center and its people.”

Mr Jeremy Cao, the Vice President of BGI IntDx, said at the signing ceremony, “This is one of our pioneer overseas thalassemia projects and such agreement commits us to work together more closely towards common goals, the pursuit of screening and control of thalassemia, and the vision that in a not-too-distant future there will be a world without this disease. I would like to say I am confident that through our efforts and commitment, we will be able to achieve more and to continue to develop even stronger relationships and friendships between the people of Azerbaijan and BG GenomicsI.”

Thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder, caused by the insufficient production of hemoglobin in the red blood cells that deliver oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. People with thalassemia have much less hemoglobin than normal people and usually suffer from mild to severe anemia.

The Azerbaijan Thalassemia Center is the leading public medical institution fighting thalassemia in the region. This center not only provides service for patients who suffer from this disease but also for people with other genetic conditions. The country also offers a foundation providing medical services to foreign citizens at this Center.

About BGI Genomics

BGI Genomics, is the world's leading integrated solutions provider of precision medicine. Our services cover more than 100 countries and regions, involving more than 2,300 medical institutions. In July of 2017, as a subsidiary of BGI Group, BGI Genomics (300676.SZ) was officially listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

BGI Genomics is a pioneer providing thalassemia genetic testing services based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology since 2013. Expanding the availability of genetic testing has been instrumental in the screening, diagnosis and treatment of thalassemia.