China announced a 6 billion yuan ($900 million) genome sequencing project that among other goals aims to map out the genetic diversity of Chinese, media reported Sunday.
The four-year project involves compiling a massive genome database based on the hospital records for 80 million people across Jiangsu Province, authorities said at the China-U.S. Precision Medicine Initiatives Nanjing Summit on Sunday.
The project will be centered in a new research facility in Nanjing's Xinbei District, which will house a number of genome sequencing firms, said Lan Qing, Deputy Director with the Jiangsu Health and Family Planning Commission.
"Fifty sequencing machines will launch the center, as well as some leading sequencing firms," Lan said at the summit.
Among other research goals, scientists seek to analyze disease mutations and the diversity of Chinese genome assemblies.
"We will be capable of testing up to 500,000 people per year," Lan added.
