New Brazilian biobank promotes diversity in precision medicine through the miscegenation of the Brazilian population’s DNA, uniting descendants from Africa, Europe and the native Brazilian population

gen-t, a leading Brazilian biotechnology startup that is building the largest and most diverse gene bank in Latin America, has been chosen as one of the top 10 startups to participate in the BIO International Convention 2024, scheduled to take place from June 3 to 6, 2024, at the San Diego Convention Center in California.

This participation stems from gen-t’s selection in the Brazil’s BEST (Biotech Ecosystem of StartUps) program, an initiative led by ApexBrasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency) and ABIQUIFI (Brazilian Association of the Pharmaceutical Ingredients Industry). The program aims to attract foreign investment to Brazilian biotechnology startups, with a particular focus on the human and animal health sectors.

Since its founding in September 2021, gen-t has dedicated itself to building the largest and most diverse private gene bank in Latin America, with the aim of collecting the genetic data of 200,000 Brazilians. The company’s mission is to promote inclusion and diversity in global gene banks, taking advantage of the unique genetic mix present in the Brazilian population. With more than 210 million people, Brazil has 500 years of genetic miscegenation of indigenous, African and European populations, offering unparalleled diversity for medical research and development.

“Attending the BIO International Convention is a significant milestone for gen-t,” said Lygia Pereira, founder and CEO of gen-t. “It’s an opportunity for us to showcase our pioneering work in genetic diversity and its implications for medical advances on a global stage.”

Considered one of the world’s leading geneticists and founder of gen-t, Lygia da Veiga Pereira played a key role in the team that created Brazil’s first transgenic mouse, developing crucial models to investigate genetic diseases.

The BIO International Convention is the largest and most comprehensive biotechnology event in the world, attracting more than 20,000 industry leaders globally. This year’s convention will feature a wide range of participants, including public pharmaceutical companies, biotech startups, academics, non-profit organizations, government entities, researchers, business development professionals and investors.

As part of gen-t’s participation in the convention, the company will take part in networking opportunities, new business meetings and presentations to potential investors and partners. gen-t aims to use this platform to raise awareness of the importance of genetic diversity in medical research and foster collaborations with international stakeholders.

For more information about gen-t, visit www.gen-t.science.

About gen-t:

gen-t is a Brazilian biotech startup founded in September 2021 by Lygia Pereira. The company is dedicated to building the largest and most diverse private gene bank in Latin America, with a focus on promoting genetic inclusion and diversity in global medical research and development.