PacBio, DNAstack launch global HiFi genome data

Nearly 30 hospitals in 15 countries link over 10,000 HiFi genomes in a federated network for rare disease research, keeping patient data under local control.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 2:05pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

PacBio, a developer of advanced sequencing technologies, has partnered with DNAstack to launch the world's first global federated dataset of HiFi whole genome sequencing data. Through the HiFi Solves Global Consortium, the collaboration enables secure international research, allowing genomic insights to travel across borders while sensitive data remains under institutional control. The consortium now includes nearly 30 clinical and research institutions across 15 countries, with members having connected or committed to connect more than 10,000 HiFi whole genome sequences.

Why it matters

By increasing statistical power for rare disease studies, the federated model enables insights that would be much more difficult, if not impossible, within siloed datasets, while preserving data sovereignty and meeting regional compliance requirements. The high accuracy and ability of HiFi sequencing to resolve complex genomic regions provide clinical researchers with greater confidence in detecting disease-causing variants, which can ultimately accelerate time to answers for patients and families.

The details

The collaboration between PacBio and DNAstack powers the HiFi Solves Global Consortium, which enables secure international research by allowing participating institutions to connect HiFi whole genome sequencing data and associated metadata within a highly secure federated environment. The platform hosted by DNAstack allows researchers to query harmonized datasets across institutions without centralizing protected data, supporting global collaboration while maintaining compliance with regional data privacy regulations.

  • The HiFi Solves Global Consortium was launched in 2023.
  • In November 2025, consortium members from the EMEA region published the first major study from the initiative, demonstrating the value of federated HiFi whole genome sequencing at scale.

The players

PacBio

A premier life science technology company that designs, develops, and manufactures advanced sequencing solutions to help scientists and clinical researchers resolve genetically complex problems.

DNAstack

A company that builds the trust infrastructure for biomedical data collaboration, connecting genomic and clinical data across institutions and enabling researchers and clinicians to learn together while data stays under local control.

HiFi Solves Global Consortium

A consortium of leading clinical genomics research organizations focused on advancing the use of highly accurate HiFi sequencing in rare disease research.

Eric Vilain, M.D., Ph.D.

A member of the HiFi Solves Global Consortium and a professor at the UC Irvine School of Medicine.

Christian Henry

The President and Chief Executive Officer of PacBio.

Marc Fiume

The CEO of DNAstack.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“HiFi whole genome sequencing delivers the accuracy and completeness required to confidently detect even the most challenging variants.”

— Christian Henry, President and Chief Executive Officer of PacBio

“Genome sequencing can help deliver answers to patients who need it most — but only if we can learn from global datasets while protecting participants' privacy.”

— Marc Fiume, CEO at DNAstack

“For rare disease genomic analysis, accuracy and completeness are essential. Taking advantage of the consortium's federated model, we can securely filter variants and interpret findings in the context of a diverse global dataset while maintaining full control of patient data — ultimately delivering clearer answers to families faster and with greater confidence.”

— Eric Vilain, M.D., Ph.D., UC Irvine School of Medicine and a member of the HiFi Solves Global Consortium

What’s next

The HiFi Solves Global Consortium is continuing to expand, with plans to connect more institutions and increase the number of HiFi whole genome sequences in the federated dataset.

The takeaway

The collaboration between PacBio and DNAstack to launch the HiFi Solves Global Consortium demonstrates the power of secure, federated data sharing to advance rare disease research. By leveraging the high accuracy and completeness of HiFi sequencing and enabling global collaboration while maintaining data privacy, the consortium is poised to accelerate the discovery of disease-causing variants and improve outcomes for patients and families affected by rare diseases.