PacBio announced a collaboration with iHope, a global rare disease genomics program of Genetic Alliance, to integrate PacBio’s HiFi long-read whole-genome sequencing into iHope’s international network.
The iHope program is designed to enable collaborative, multi-technology support for rare disease patients, bringing together diverse approaches and clinical expertise to address the biological complexity of rare genetic disorders. The addition of PacBio’s HiFi long-read whole-genome sequencing aims to expand the range of genomic insights available across the network, providing data that supports iHope’s mission to ultimately drive more diagnostic clarity.
By integrating PacBio long-read sequencing alongside diagnostic approaches, iHope will strengthen its ability to interrogate challenging regions of the genome and explore additional classes of genetic variation. PacBio and iHope aim to broaden opportunities for patients with unresolved findings, while reinforcing a shared learning environment in which advances at one laboratory or clinical site can inform and elevate care across the entire network. The PacBio – iHope collaboration is designed to support future research into precision therapeutic approaches, including antisense oligonucleotide–based strategies.
Integration of PacBio HiFi sequencing into the iHope network is expected to begin in early 2026.
