WHO Report Finds Less Than 5% of Disease-Focused Genomic Studies Conducted in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

A recent global analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed a sharp imbalance in disease-focused genomic research, with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) accounting for less than five per cent of such studies worldwide.

According to the WHO, more than 6,500 genomic clinical studies were registered globally between 1990 and 2024 through its International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. The number of studies rose sharply after 2010, driven by rapid advancements in genome sequencing technologies, reduced costs, and expanding clinical applications. Despite this growth, over 80 per cent of genomic research remains concentrated in high-income countries.

China emerged as the leading country in terms of the total number of registered genomic clinical studies over the past three decades, followed by the United States and Italy. India ranked among the top 20 countries globally. However, the report noted that LMICs are rarely in leadership roles within such research. India participated in 235 studies, while Egypt, South Africa, and Nigeria featured in 38, 17, and 14 studies respectively—mostly as part of multi-country collaborations rather than as lead partners.

The analysis, titled “Human genomics technologies in clinical studies: the research landscape,” highlighted that cancer, rare diseases, and metabolic disorders together account for more than 75 per cent of all genomic studies globally. While these areas were early adopters of genomic approaches, the report flagged a major gap in research on infectious diseases.

Communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria represented just three per cent of all genomic studies, despite their significant contribution to the global disease burden—particularly in low-resource settings. The authors described this as a missed opportunity to use genomics to better understand disease susceptibility, treatment response, and host–pathogen interactions.

The WHO study also pointed to demographic gaps in genomic research. Over three-quarters of studies focused on adults aged 18 to 64, while only 4.6 per cent targeted children and just 3.3 per cent involved older adults.

Calling for urgent action, the WHO urged more inclusive, geographically balanced, and locally relevant genomic research. Recommendations included greater investment in genomic infrastructure and research capacity in underrepresented regions, stronger leadership from LMIC-based institutions, better alignment of research priorities with local disease burdens, and increased inclusion of children, older adults, and other underrepresented populations.

Source: PTI