Variant Bio

We have distributed over $1 million USD in short-term benefits for genomic research projects spanning six continents: https://lnkd.in/egPhBqbc

Scientists from Variant Bio and the University of Antananarivo presented our work together at AfSHG in Uganda: https://lnkd.in/gaJUHjtY

Such a thought-provoking and important discussion with co-panelists Dr. June Fabian, Keolu Fox, Ph.D., and Valerie Luyckx, MBBCh, MSc, PhD now available to view here:

We are proud to be among the sponsors of the 15th African Society for Human Genetics conference taking place in Uganda this week, and to see Olivia Gray, PhD from Variant Bio and Stéphie Raveloson, M.Sc from University of Antananarivo both presenting about our project together in Madagascar.

If you're attending AfSHG this year in Entebbe, stop by poster 83 to hear Stéphie Raveloson, M.Sc talk about the exciting findings from a collaboration between the University of Antananarivo and Variant Bio exploring the genetic diversity of Madagascar. This work, recently published in HGG Advances, examined the genetic and phenotypic variation of a Malagasy cohort across three geographic locations, finding genetic associations with body composition traits. If you'd like to hear more about our ethical approaches to benefits sharing and results return relating to this project, you can also stop by poster 140 and chat with me!

Variant Bio aims to study immune function across diverse populations with new funding from the Gates Foundation: https://lnkd.in/ejSiEXGg

Variant Bio on the list:

Trust is the foundation of any successful partnership – and, in my opinion, biotech company Variant Bio is showing how to build it the right way. The company has committed to sharing revenues with Indigenous communities in exchange for access to their genetic information which can be used to develop potentially life-saving treatments. Through its plan, Variant Bio is proving innovation and community engagement go hand-in-hand. This approach not only gives the company access to valuable information for medical discovery, but also begins to rebuild trust in communities often overlooked by healthcare companies and encourages further collaboration. In Variant Bio’s case, working closely inside communities to overcome this divide has resulted in a new pathway for medical innovation. But the real lesson is about recognizing the power of community as a driver for innovation, trust and progress. This is a blueprint for businesses everywhere and in every sector: community engagement isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s smart business.

Seattle-based Variant Bio recently announced plans for benefit-sharing with Indigenous communities that have contributed genetic information to their drug development research. Susan Brown Trinidad, Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioethics and Humanities, discussed this and broader research ethics topics with KUOW Public Radio's Patricia Murphy. Listen to the conversation here: https://lnkd.in/gbWVY4uZ  #ResearchEthics #BenefitSharing #IndigenousRights #UW #Bioethics

Listen to Seattle's NPR KUOW Public Radio coverage of Variant Bio's new partnership with Novo Nordisk and our approach to making human genomic research and drug discovery both more ethical and equitable: https://lnkd.in/e2KpkhWA