icddr,b launches advanced genome sequencing-based cancer diagnostics in Bangladesh
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icddr,b has launched its Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based cancer diagnostic service, making a major step forward in making precision cancer care more accessible and affordable in Bangladesh.
Offered by the icddr,b Genome Centre, this is the most comprehensive molecular testing service of its kind in the country, developed to support cancer specialists with faster, more accurate, and locally available diagnostics to guide personalised treatment plans.
The initiative addresses a longstanding call from Bangladesh’s cancer specialist community to reduce dependence on overseas laboratories, according to icddr,b.
Currently, many patients wait four to five weeks for results, often at high cost and with questionable report quality. In contrast, icddr,b will deliver reports in less than two weeks, backed by internationally trained experts, cutting-edge equipment, and globally benchmarked standards, it added.
“We are taking a transformative step toward accessible and precise cancer care in Bangladesh,” said Dr Md Mustafizur Rahman, Senior Scientist and Acting Senior Director, Infectious Diseases Division at icddr,b, adding that “We are ensuring the highest quality through globally trained professionals, rigorous validation, and world-class infrastructure. Our commitment is to provide cancer specialists and patients with timely, trusted insights that can make all the difference in cancer care.”
The service was developed under the leadership of Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director of icddr,b, who envisioned the Genome Centre as a strategic initiative to strengthen national cancer care.
“This was a gap we could not ignore,” said Dr Tahmeed. “Our goal is to ensure no patient has to wait weeks or travel abroad for critical test results. We invite cancer specialists to work with us to bring this service to more people who need it most. This is not just a service—it’s a promise to deliver hope, trust, and better outcomes for all parties in cancer treatment and management in Bangladesh.”
This announcement builds on the momentum of a high-level visit to the icddr,b Genome Centre on 12 December 2024 by the Oncology Club of Bangladesh, and joined by members of the Lancet Oncology Editorial Board, and SAARC cancer specialists attending the Bangladesh International Cancer Congress.
The delegation praised icddr,b’s efforts to build world-class diagnostic capacity and advance cancer care in Bangladesh.
A 2025 nationwide study by BSMMU found that cancer affects over 100 in every 100,000 people in Bangladesh, with breast, oral, stomach, throat, and cervical cancers being the most common. Many patients facing delays in diagnosis, early and reliable testing is essential.
The icddr,b Genome Centre is well positioned to play a vital role in improving outcomes and reducing the national cancer burden. It offers testing for breast, lung, colon, ovarian, and blood cancers, enabling doctors to intervene when treatment is most effective.
To facilitate patient access, samples will be collected from any of the icddr,b Diagnostics Centres and booths in Mohakhali, Mirpur, Motijheel, Dhanmondi, Uttara, Niketon, Gulshan, and Baridhara.