Advances in artificial intelligence and synthetic biology are driving a new frontier in genomic research. Megan Thomas explores what the future of genomics will look like.

New technologies for the future

In a Eureka! podcast interview with McKinsey, Howard Jacob, Vice President of Genomics Research and Head of Data Integration at AbbVie, discussed the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI). Jacob leads the AbbVie Genomics Research Center, a global organisation that covers data generation for omics, all the computational teams, functional genomics, CRISPR screening, human genetics, and pharmacogenomics. He highlights how AI and machine learning (ML), powered by a unified knowledge graph linking billions of data points, are transforming drug discovery and development from early target identification to trial optimisation. He thinks AI is redefining diseases through molecular fingerprints, enabling precision diagnostics, and accelerating the shift from treatments to cures. He told McKinsey: “We’ve gone from thinking about this to sprinting”.

The name Jennifer Doudna is known widely amongst those working in the genomics space, due to her pioneering work in CRISPR gene editing. She has made fundamental contributions in biochemistry and genetics and received the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Emmanuelle Charpentier. In an article written for Wired, Doudna wrote that genome editing technology can be “supercharged” by AI, and the results are already being felt. Doudna wrote: “In my field, CRISPR gene editing and genomics more broadly, we often deal with enormous datasets—or, in many cases, we can’t deal with them properly because we simply don’t have the tools or the time. […] AI and ML are already removing these limitations, and we are using AI tools to quickly search and make discoveries in our large genomic datasets.”

A study published in Genetics in Medicine Open showed how a single genomic test, supported by ML, could replace two separate stages of testing. This would help speed up diagnosis and reduce NHS costs without compromising testing accuracy. Wellcome Sanger Institute’s directory and study author Professor Matthew Hurles said: “We are still learning how large-scale genetic variations impact human health. This study proves that with the right computational methods, a single test can accurately detect them.”

In a paper published in the Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology titled ‘Harnessing the power of electronic health records and genomics for drug discovery’, the authors explore the use of biobanks and electronic health records to inform the genomics process. Electronic health records (EHRs) are digitised, longitudinal patient records that capture medical history, treatments, lab results, and outcomes, providing a powerful resource when linked with genomic data for precision drug discovery. By integrating EHRs with genomic datasets and leveraging advanced analytics, researchers can accelerate drug discovery and improve translational success.

In a paper published in Cell titled ‘Deep learning in image-based phenotypic drug discovery’, the authors discuss how AI methods based on ML, and especially deep learning (DL), “can extract and combine complex image features from high-content images of drug-treated cells enabling rapid automatic classification of cellular phenotypes and accurate identification of modes of action of drugs.” Throughout the review, the authors highlight applications and adaptations of ML, especially DL methods for cell-based phenotypic drug discovery (PDD).

The table below showcases new technology being used to ensure the new frontier of genomics medicine is possible:

Emerging regions for genomics

As is covered during the overview in this report, North America and the UK are currently key players in the global genomics market. But it is clear from studies and data that the Asia-Pacific region is emerging. Precedence Research reported that Asia Pacific is expected to expand at a solid CAGR of 18.11% during the forecast period of 2025 to 2034. This research report spotlights South Korea and China as “bright prospects of the market”, due to its largest population and per capita expenditures, but other Asia-Pacific countries such as India and Singapore also look promising.

India

In terms of revenue, India accounted for 2.2% of the global genomics market in 2023, according to Grand View Research. The country’s projected revenue is $2,434.1 million by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 19.4% from 2024 to 2030.

An example of Indian genomic innovation is illustrated through the GenomeIndia Project, a scientific project funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. The project is a collaboration of 20 academic and research institutions, unified by the aim of a genomics-based health revolution for India. Since it started, the GenomeIndia project collected 20,000 samples from 83 diverse populations, cutting across the length and breadth of India, leading to the establishment of a robust biobank for future research purposes. In addition, whole genome sequencing has been completed for 10,000 samples, with the intention to create a comprehensive catalogue of India’s genetic diversity, which will result in a representative reference genome for the Indian population. This, alongside whole genome sequencing data for 10,000 individuals being archived at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC), which can be accessed through the FeED protocol and governed by the BIOTECH-PRIDE guidelines, show the investment that India is currently placing in genomics.

Singapore

Spherical Insights published a report which valued the Singapore genomics market at $38.5 million in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 17.03% from 2023 to 2033, and expected to reach $185.5 million by 2033.

The focus of The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is testimony to Singapore’s growing influence in genomic sciences. Since it was founded in 2000, GIS has pushed the frontiers of genomic technologies and algorithms in its quest to use genomics to improve human health and public prosperity. In July 2025, the GIS entered a research collaboration with 10x Genomics for the Target Inference from Spatialomics & Histology Using Multimodal AI & Phenotypes (TISHUMAP) project. This initiative will leverage 10x Genomics’ Xenium platform and advanced AI to analyse thousands of tissue samples with the goal of accelerating drug target discovery and enabling precision medicine for cancer and inflammatory diseases.

China

The genomics market in China, according to Grand View Research, is expected to reach a projected revenue of $8,314.7 million by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate of 18.5% from 2024 to 2030.

In the region, BGI Group (formerly known as Beijing Genomics Institute) has evolved into one of the world’s largest genomic research centres. In fact, on 21 August 2025, Fortune magazine released its 2025 China Tech 50 list, naming BGI Group among the 50 companies selected because of its continuous innovation and breakthroughs in core life science technologies. The group is operating globally with advanced sequencing platforms, including DNBseq technology, and contributing to major initiatives like the China National GeneBank.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

PwC estimates that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are poised to capture more than 60% of the estimated $1.2 billion market for genomics alone. It says that strategic investments in genomic technology and data, noting AstraZeneca’s estimated $840 million four-year partnership deal with Verge Genomics recently, reflect the high economic stakes and potential returns.

Spearheaded by the UAE government in collaboration with G42 Healthcare, the Emirati Genome Program (EGP) sequenced over 214,000 Emirati genomes in just 15 months, according to a Financial Times article titled “Abu Dhabi’s quest to turn its DNA ‘gold mine’ into big business”. This growth is enabled by the region’s omics infrastructure, and notably, a national project launched by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health, whereby Group 42 is harnessing its Artemis supercomputer to decode the human genome and improve patient care.

Key investment and grants

Looking at funding is a clear way to see what, when launched, will begin playing a role in the future. The following assets illustrate how much money a selection of countries’ governments and organisations have invested in genomics.

Government Investments in Genomics by Country in 2025

Synthetic genomics

Synthetic genomics is a field of synthetic biology. According to a Precedence Research analysis of the synthetic biology market, the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) segment held the largest share of 28.1% of the market in 2024, which has developed into a crucial technology for detecting and analysing specific gene sequences. This approach is commonly utilised in forensic analysis, molecular diagnostics, DNA cloning, and genomics.

Synthetic genomics is focused on designing and synthesising entire genomes (DNA) from scratch, or modifying existing ones significantly in order to create new biological functions and engineered organisms. As of 2025, there are no fully synthetic human genomes or synthetic chromosomes approved as therapies, but this looks to be something that will become possible in the future.

A team of UK-based scientists are developing technology to create the first synthetic human chromosome. The Wellcome Trust is providing £10 ($13.3) million funding to the new Synthetic Human Genome Project (SynHG) to develop the foundational tools, technology and methods to enable researchers to one day synthesise genomes. According to Wellcome, it could one day lead to new medical treatments, like designer cell-based therapies and virus-resistant tissue transplantation. Wellcome states: “Building a full synthetic human genome is expected to take decades. Over the next five years, the SynHG project will build the foundational tools to enable this work.”

Another noteworthy project underway is the Synthetic Yeast Genome Project (Sc2.0), a global consortium working to develop the first synthetic eukaryote genome from scratch. The project’s aim is to synthesise the entire yeast genome, which is about 6,000 genes, with a built-in diversity generator that will enable researchers to discover how yeast, as a model organism, deals with genetic change and how genomes might be improved to create more robust organisms. This project lays the foundation for future genome design. 

In a paper titled ‘The design and engineering of synthetic genomes’ for Nature Reviews Genetics, the authors review the strategies for design, construction, delivery, debugging and tailoring of synthetic genomes as well as their potential applications. In the future, we might see the translation of synthetic genome-scale projects from idea to implementation in a streamlined fashion.

Conclusion

The new frontier of genomics is expanding at pace, driven by advances in AI, ML, and synthetic biology. From integrating electronic health records with large-scale genomic datasets to developing synthetic chromosomes and fully designed yeast genomes, these innovations are redefining how we understand biology and accelerate drug discovery. Emerging regions in Asia-Pacific, alongside established hubs in North America and the UK, are contributing to a more globally distributed and collaborative genomics landscape. As investments, infrastructure, and computational tools continue to grow, the next decade promises a transformative era where precision medicine, faster diagnostics, and engineered therapies become increasingly achievable.