Page 168 - SAMRC AnnualReport 2025-26

On 29 October 2025, the DSTI–SAMRC–Illumina Memorandum of Understanding for the South African 110K
Human Genome Programme was signed by Dr Kenny Tenza, Acting Director-General of DSTI (front row,
left), Prof Ntobeko Ntusi, CEO & President of the SAMRC (front row, centre), and Dr Swaroop Aradhya, Vice
President for Medical and Scientific Affairs at Illumina (front row, right). Also pictured are members of the
SAMRC and Illumina teams supporting the programme's implementation.

On 7 November, the DSTI–SAMRC–MGI Memorandum of Understanding for the South African 110K Human
Genome Programme was signed by Dr Kenny Tenza, Acting Director-General of DSTI (front row, left),
Prof Ntobeko Ntusi, CEO & President of the SAMRC (front row, centre), and Duncan Yu, President of MGI
Tech Co. (front row, right). Also featured are the core programme implementation team and the full staff
complement of the SAMRC Genomics Centre.

SAMRC, in collaboration with the DSTI, finalised infrastructure. Collectively, these partnerships
strategic alliances with both MGI Tech Co. and enhance South Africa’s capacity to execute the
Illumina Pty Ltd to support the implementation of 10 000-genome pilot, establish a National Genome
the South African 110K Human Genome Programme. Archive and genomic reference resource, reduce the
These alliances strengthen the national precision underrepresentation of African populations in global
medicine initiative by ensuring access to advanced genomics, and position South Africa as a regional
sequencing and genomic technologies, technical leader in locally driven genomic research, innovation,
training, bioinformatics and data stewardship and health equity.
capacity-building, and support for scalable local

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