Population genomics: A scientific leap in treating cancer and rare diseases

Population-wide gene sequencing helps map disease patterns and variations in generic makeup to offer customised cancer therapy and help treat a host of rare and hitherto incurable ailments

Earlier this year, Jay T Flatley, Executive Chairman, Illumina Inc, was on a quick and first-ever visit to India. The company, with a market cap of $45 billion, is a leader in genome sequencing products and services. While the company has not made major inroads into India yet, the country's immense population presents a huge opportunity that Flatley wants to tap.

Founded in 1998, at the height of the dotcom bubble, Illumina was taken public in 2000 by Flatley, who led it as CEO for 17 years. It raised $100 million and used that money to develop its product line.