As the volume of biomedical and genomic data grows at an unprecedented rate, so does our responsibility to harness it wisely. Our Centre for Genomics Research (CGR) mission is simple but profound: building cutting-edge AI tools to unlock insights from human data with the aim to transform medicine, while doing so sustainably, responsibly, and collaboratively. In the era of big data, how we advance science matters just as much as what we discover.
Scaling genomics research responsibly.
What does it take to analyse the genetic blueprint of millions of people?
It takes an immense amount of genomic data, powerful sequencing technology to generate it, computational infrastructure to process it, and scientific expertise to turn the information into insights that can lead to potentially life-changing medicines. It also demands a holistic understanding of how human health is interconnected with the health of our planet. Above all, sustainable genomics research requires a commitment to advancing better health outcomes while minimising our environmental footprint.
We’ve redesigned how genomic data can be analysed, creating new methods that reduce computing requirements and associated CO₂ emissions by over 99%. These computational efficiencies allow us to maximise what we learn from population-scale genomic datasets so we can better understand how diseases work, find potentially novel therapeutic targets, and design smarter, more precise clinical studies.
Breakthroughs in our genomic research must be matched by our responsibility to the planet. Our ambition is clear: advance genomics research at an unprecedented scale while minimising environmental impact, accelerating the transition to sustainable, net zero healthcare.
Democratising genomics research to help accelerate breakthroughs
Scaling genomics research is not enough; the knowledge it generates should be accessible. To support global research progress, we have made large components of our population-scale AI tools and insights available through open access platforms such as:
- MILTON: Enabling better and earlier disease detection through multi-omic signatures
- AZPheWAS: Connecting genetic variation in the population to clinical outcomes across tens of thousands of clinical endpoints
In 2025 alone, more than 20,000 scientists across 100 countries used these platforms to uncover new biology, generate hypotheses, and accelerate translational research. This collaborative model enables researchers everywhere to build upon discoveries and advance scientific progress. It fosters transparency, minimises unnecessary duplication, reduces compute burden, and ensures discoveries can move faster and more equitably.
Before I joined AstraZeneca, I used the AZPheWAS platform to explore associations between rare protein coding variants and a wide range of clinical phenotypes. Open science like this is crucial to ensuring that researchers around the world, have access to the tools and insights we need to contribute to scientific advances meaningfully
Looking forward
Genomics is transforming our understanding of human health. The next step is working to transform care.
The promise of the convergence of genomics, multi-omics, and AI is to help us shift toward a proactive healthcare model that can potentially identify disease sooner, preserve organ function longer, slow down disease progression, and intervenes before severe illness manifests so people can live longer, healthier lives.
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Want to know more?
Learn more about our Centre for Genomics Research and how we are working with partners to translate insights from human genetics into actionable R&D opportunities — laying the groundwork for tomorrow’s medicines that can help shape the future of healthcare.
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