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Indigenous genomics
Bioplatforms Australia is supporting a long-term, Indigenous-led effort to build a national reference for genome variation in Indigenous Australians. This work aims to improve health outcomes and ensure that genomic research reflects and respects the diversity of Australia’s First Peoples.
An initial Bioplatforms Framework Initiative, launched in 2021, supported genome sequencing of samples from the National Centre for Indigenous Genomics (NCIG) at ANU. This effort was led by Professor Simon Easteal and involved partnerships with the Garvan Institute and National Computational Infrastructure. NCIG provides foundational data to help interpret genetic variation in an Indigenous Australian context, which is critical for accurate diagnosis, research, and culturally safe care.
Building on this foundation, Bioplatforms has also invested in the Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics (ALIGN), led by Professor Alex Brown. ALIGN is a new national program led by Indigenous researchers that puts community priorities, leadership, and benefit-sharing at the centre of genomic health research.
Together, these efforts will build capacity for Indigenous-led genomics research, support clinical and public health benefits, and strengthen ethical, culturally informed data governance.
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Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics
A purposeful alliance between community, health, research, government, and industry that privileges Indigenous leadership and sovereignty. ALIGN’S aim is to deliver equity and benefit to Indigenous Australians through genomics.
National Centre for Indigenous Genomics
NCIG is creating Indigenous genomic data resources which will be available to researchers, subject to appropriate access mechanisms, for a wide range of Indigenous-focused genomic health and medical research.