Over 1,000 Filipino Australians have come forward to take part in a national research initiative that could shape the future of healthcare. Driven by the value of bayanihan – helping one another for the greater good – they’re contributing to a growing effort to make genetic research more inclusive and accurate for all Australians.
The initiative, known as OurDNA, is a major program led by the Centre for Population Genomics (CPG), a not-for-profit collaboration between the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne. The project aims to increase diversity in medical research by working closely with multicultural communities who have long been underrepresented in genomic datasets.
Over the past year, Filipino community leaders across New South Wales and Victoria mobilised hundreds of volunteers to participate in the project, contributing blood samples and demographic data that will help researchers understand how genetic factors impact health outcomes. It’s a deeply personal and community-driven mission for many.
“The impact of having Filipino representation in genetic resources is significant,” said Grace Liston, research scientist and President of the Philippine Community Council of NSW. “These resources are the first step in ensuring our community can experience the benefits of more personalised care.”
According to CPG, since September 2023, 332 Filipino Australians from NSW have taken part in OurDNA, with a further 687 in Victoria – bringing the total to 1,019 participants nationally.
For Melbourne-based community leader Mila Cichello, the work is both scientific and deeply emotional. Her younger brother died in his 40s from a paralysing illness doctors were unable to diagnose.
“This research is significant for me and my kababayans. Filipinos understand the science linking dugo (blood), tribo (tribe), lahi (race), heredity, traits and medical conditions,” she shared. “I’m proud that so many of us have come together to create change and leave a legacy for future generations. This is bayanihan in action. Every Filipino who joined OurDNA will make a lasting impact on the future of healthcare for our community.”
Another community leader, Ria Velasquez, echoed the same sentiment:
“We each carry our medical history, our cultural origins in our DNA. Filipinos are volunteering their time bayanihan style for OurDNA because they believe that the collective data will improve healthcare for the whole community, now and for future generations.”
Chris Richards, Program Lead of OurDNA, thanked those who participated and those who made it happen:
“A huge thank you to every single community member who joined OurDNA. Because of their contributions, we can build better, more representative genetic resources for everyone.”
“We’re especially grateful for the leadership of our community partners, including Cesar Bartolome, Grace Liston, and Maureen Santiago from the Philippine Community Council of NSW, and Mila Cichello and Ria Velasquez in Melbourne. It’s because of their leadership that we’ve been able to engage so many Filipino Australians in OurDNA. We’re looking forward to continuing our partnership. This tremendous milestone is just the beginning,” Richards said.
While the Filipino community has played a leading role in this milestone, the project is now expanding outreach to other multicultural groups across Australia, including those of Vietnamese ancestry, to ensure that the future of healthcare is informed by the full diversity of the country’s population.
To learn more or participate, visit OurDNA.org.au. The project is part of a broader effort by the Centre for Population Genomics to make medical research more inclusive of Australia’s diverse communities.
