Key Facts:
- Most of the world’s genomic reference databases are built on people of European descent, meaning diagnostic tools, risk predictions and treatment responses are less accurate for everyone else. OurDNA is a national programme designed to change that, by sequencing the genomes of Australians from underrepresented communities to build a resource that reflects who we actually are.
- The Centre for Population Genomics, a joint initiative of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, has partnered with AGRF Ltd to deliver whole genome sequencing for OurDNA at national scale.
- “These are the tools we need to ensure the future of medicine works for everyone,” says CPG Director Professor Daniel MacArthur. The AGRF partnership provides the sequencing infrastructure to make it possible.
Melbourne, Australia – 16 September 2026 – The Centre for Population Genomics (CPG) and AGRF Ltd (AGRF) today announced a partnership to deliver sequencing of whole genomes to support programs including OurDNA, a national program designed to represent Australia’s genetic diversity and make genomics research more inclusive and impactful for all Australians.
OurDNA is a flagship program of the Centre for Population Genomics, a joint research initiative between the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. OurDNA will engage communities across the country, particularly those underrepresented in genomics research, to build a resource that better reflects Australia’s true population diversity. The program aims to accelerate discoveries that improve diagnosis, treatment, and equitable access to genomic medicine.
“With OurDNA, we are working to build genomic resources that reflect the true diversity of Australian communities,” said Professor Daniel MacArthur, Director of the Centre for Population Genomics. “These resources are the tools we need to ensure the future of medicine works for everyone. Partnering with AGRF enables us to deliver the program with world-class sequencing.”
“AGRF is proud to support OurDNA as its sequencing partner,” stated Joe Baini, Chief Executive Officer of AGRF. “This collaboration brings together CPG’s vision and leadership with AGRF’s national genomics platforms, building the foundation for more equitable genomic medicine.”
Through this partnership, OurDNA will build a world-class genomic resource to accelerate research, clinical translation, and discovery, and help make the future of healthcare more equitable for all Australians.
About us:
About the Centre for Population Genomics
The Centre for Population Genomics is a collaboration between the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne. CPG is working to build a more equitable future for genomic medicine. OurDNA is a flagship program from the Centre for Population Genomics partnering with multicultural communities to build more representative genomic resources.
About AGRF
AGRF Ltd. is a national provider of research and clinical genomic services and is renowned as a partner in population genomics, delivering the technology, expertise, and infrastructure required for large-scale, equitable genomic initiatives. Our services span high-quality sequencing, genotyping, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics to generate insights into genetic diversity across communities. We enable precision healthcare, advances in rare disease and cancer research, and support policy development for more inclusive genomic medicine. Through our national NATA-accredited laboratory network and world-class instrumentation, researchers and clinicians can translate population genomics into lasting impact for health, science, and society.
