The Star
Zilfalil Alwi apponted as Malaysia's rep in WHO genomics group
5 Sep 2023

GEORGE TOWN: Dr Zilfalil Alwi, a professor and senior consultant in Paediatrics and Medical Genetics from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), has been appointed as a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on Genomics (TAG-G).

In a statement on Tuesday (Sept 5), USM said Zilfalil's appointment for a two-year term effective Aug 24 is a huge recognition for Malaysia as he is the only Malaysian representative among the 15 individuals appointed to the WHO advisory group in the field of genomics.

	"WHO TAG-G is a newly established technical advisory group on genomics to support and provide technical guidance on activities carried out by the WHO secretariat to promote access to genomic technology for the benefit of global health, especially in the field of human genomics."
Zilfalil Alwi

"In their advisory capacity, the group is also required to review and recommend priority activities for consideration by WHO to accelerate access to genomic technology for global health, including promotion, advocacy, and technical activities," the statement read.

Meanwhile, Zilfalil said that there are several roles to be played as a member of this group, which revolve around the development of genomics.

He said that the establishment of TAG-G would bring various benefits to the public and the country as it would further boost genomics globally, particularly among low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and they will be able to gain access to the latest expertise and knowledge in genomics.

"It allows these countries to enhance their capabilities in genomics-based research and medicine, enabling them to identify genetic risk factors for specific diseases and develop more personalised and effective treatments," he was quoted as saying in the statement.

Zilfalil said the approach taken by TAG-G to review and recommend priority activities for launching access to genomic technology will allow Malaysia and other countries worldwide to take strategic steps in advancing the healthcare sector.

This, he said will also help Malaysia address increasingly complex health challenges with a more holistic and up-to-date approach, ensuring the provision of more efficient and targeted healthcare and treatment.

"Advancements in genomic healthcare will open up new job opportunities, enhance the country's global competitiveness, and ultimately provide economic benefits to the global community," he added. – Bernama