Arab Pangenome Reference: Advancing Precision Medicine in the Middle East and South Asia

A new study published in *Nature Medicine* details the creation of the Arab Pangenome Reference (APR), a comprehensive genetic resource representing over 2.5 billion people across the Middle East and South Asia. Led by Dubai Health's Center for Applied and Translational Genomics (CATG) and Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, in partnership with the University of Birmingham Dubai, the APR aims to advance precision medicine by capturing the genetic diversity specific to the Arab population. Unlike traditional genetic research that relies on a single linear reference genome, the APR incorporates a collection of diverse genetic versions. This approach allows for a more complete understanding of genetic variations and unique traits, potentially leading to improved early diagnosis and personalized treatments for prevalent genetic diseases in the region. The research uncovered millions of base pairs of novel human DNA sequences, contributing to a deeper understanding of the genetic origins of diseases and traits. Researchers aim to expand the APR into graph pangenomes encompassing the entire Middle East and South Asia. They hope to accelerate the adoption of precision medicine and facilitate the study of rare disease-causing variants, leading to new discoveries in population genetics, disease susceptibility, and drug response.