Industry roundtable to shape Australia’s genomics policy

An invitation-only roundtable of key industry leaders and representatives from both federal and state governments is convening today to shape the future of precision medicine, as they deliberate the draft National Health Genomics Policy Framework 2026–2030.

The InGeNA-led roundtable marks an important milestone in the nation’s genomics journey. Back in 2016, the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Committee (AHMAC) – now known as the Health Chief Executives Forum (HCEF) – recognised the urgent need to embed genomics into the fabric of Australia’s health system. This led to the first National Health Genomics Policy Framework 2018–2021.

Following the framework’s expiration, the Health Technology and Genomics Collaboration (HTGC), which reports to HCEF, committed in 2023 to revisit and update the national policy. This effort culminated in the current draft Framework and its associated Implementation Plan.

“The Genomics Industry Roundtable is a key opportunity for government to hear directly from industry on the draft National Genomics Policy Framework and hear the united approach we’re taking to scale genomics in Australia. Industry plays a critical role to play in scaling genomics in Australia, as we’ve seen internationally, progress depends on strong collaboration across research, clinical practice and innovation,” Dr Erin Evans, CEO of InGeNA told Health Industry Hub.

A key initiative already delivering significant patient impact is Omico’s precision oncology program, known as MoST (Molecular Screening and Therapeutics Study). A retrospective analysis of MoST data revealed that 37.5% of patients had cancers with biomarkers showing strong clinical evidence for therapeutic benefit. Among the first 3,383 participants, those who received matched therapies through clinical trials based on their biomarkers had a median survival time that was double that of patients receiving unmatched therapy.

Omico’s recent partnership with Merck Healthcare is set to further expand access to precision oncology, particularly for patients with rare and hard-to-treat cancers – often the most overlooked in the healthcare system.

InGeNA’s submission to the draft Framework consultation, which closes on 25 July, will spotlight global best practice, drawing particular attention to the UK’s 10-year NHS plan. That plan positions genomics as one of five “transformative technologies” designed to “personalise care, improve outcomes, increase productivity and boost economic growth.”

“Our goal is to ensure the policy environment enables access, integration and investment, so we can deliver personalised healthcare that benefits all Australians,” said Dr Evans. “Industry is the bridge that connects innovation to impact, and we’re here to collaborate and drive real outcomes.”

Today’s roundtable reflects growing momentum and a shared imperative for government, industry, and healthcare stakeholders to align on delivering equitable access to genomics and precision medicine, regardless of postcode.

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