Egypt genome study opens door to ‘precision medicine’ with 17 million new genetic variants

CAIRO – 15 April 2026: Egypt has published its first peer-reviewed research paper detailing the results of the Egypt Genome Project 1K (EGP1K), a landmark study that sequenced the full genomes of 1,024 unrelated citizens.

“The Egyptian genome is no longer a secret, but a tool in the hands of doctors to protect the lives of Egyptians,” Health Ministry Spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said in a Wednesday statement .

The project identified over 51 million genetic variants, including 17 million previously unknown to global databases. Led by Dr. Khaled Amer (ECRRM) and Dr. Ahmed Mostafa (AUC), the initiative marks a shift toward "precision medicine" tailored to the local population.

Samples were collected from 21 out of Egypt’s 27 governorates across the Delta, Upper Egypt, and the Suez Canal region. All laboratory analyses were conducted within specialized research centers in Cairo.

Correcting assessment biases

Abdel Ghaffar highlighted that European-based risk tools classified 83% of Egyptians as "high risk" for strokes and 76% for chronic kidney disease—whereas such tools are intended to identify only the top 10% of a population at highest risk.

Thanks to EGP1K, the ministry will develop "100% Egyptian" personalized tests to accurately identify individuals who truly require intervention.

Managing hereditary diseases

The study found that 9.1% of Egyptians carry the gene for Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), resulting in roughly 6,600 affected births annually. The ministry will use this data to provide free preventive screenings and treatments for at-risk families. The database will also improve the management of thalassemia and hereditary hearing loss.

The "Egypt Genome Consortium,” which was carried out by more than 30 researchers, represents concerted efforts by the Ministry of Health, the Armed Forces College of Medicine, the National Research Centre at Cairo University, the AUC, Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine, the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology at Helwan University, and Nile University.