Please note: As of 1 July 2025, the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science) is the new name for the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR). Articles and information published before this date may reference the organisation's former name.
Aotearoa New Zealand emerged as a global leader in leveraging the power of genomics to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, as outlined in a new publication Exploring the Depth and Breadth of the Genomics Toolbox during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights from Aotearoa New Zealand.
Published in BMC Medicine, the open access article tracks Aotearoa’s genomics journey – from COVID-19 elimination to suppression strategies – in addressing the virus and provides insights into how the country’s experience can inform future use of genomics to prepare for disease outbreaks.
A key finding of the publication is there is no single mode of genetic surveillance, instead it must remain agile and ready to respond at short notice. Hand-in-hand with this agility is the need to make the explanation of genetic results accessible to a wide range of decision-makers and health professionals. The authors call for more accessible interfaces with data, alongside ongoing training of people who need to interweave genomic data into their decision-making.
As noted in the publications: “Prior to COVID-19, terms like ‘genes’ and ‘genomics’ in New Zealand likely conjured images of genetically modified organisms from polarising debates of two decades earlier. The use of mRNA vaccines and the well-publicised setup of real-time genomic tools for pandemic tracking and decision-making have brought the technology into the public eye.”
“We envisage a future where New Zealanders are better informed about the benefits (and risks) of embracing genetic technologies, how RNA-based therapeutics are game-changers, and how a health system where genomic data is integrated in an accessible way should be our preferred future pathway.”
The publication in BMC Medicine was co-authored by a group of New Zealand public health and genomic science specialists, including from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR).