On 24-25 June 2025, a major milestone in biomedical innovation was achieved as global experts gathered for the inaugural Project Team Meeting of ISO/AWI 25725 — launching a pioneering initiative to standardise the design and workflow requirements for in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) in next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based oncology applications.

Held in a hybrid format at the Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) in Berlin, the dynamic session united 21 experts from 12 countries across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. With strong leadership from Singapore and key representation from China, Germany, UK, Spain and beyond, the collaborative energy in the room — and online — was vibrant.

Chaired by Dr Yiu-Lian Fong (Singapore BHSC partner from MiRXES), the meeting reflected a powerful shared commitment to advancing cancer diagnostics through precision, efficiency, and quality — all enabled by robust standardisation.

The team tackled complex yet vital issues including terminology clarity, measurement uncertainty, analytical sensitivity, and oncology-specific workflows — laying the groundwork for a comprehensive and globally applicable standard. All key proposals received unanimous support, with a 100% positive vote — a clear show of alignment among the international project team.

To build the technical foundation of ISO/AWI 25725, members stepped up as expert contributors and drafting leads, covering essential sections ranging from examination design to data analysis and clinical reporting.

With ISO’s Online Standards Development (OSD) platform now in full use, the team has embraced real-time, global collaboration. Monthly working sessions are set to maintain drafting momentum, tailored to the progress and availability of section leads.

“This is where innovation meets precision,” said Dr Fong. “We’re not just building a document — we’re shaping the future of how cancer diagnostics are developed, validated, and applied globally.”

As NGS technologies continue to transform oncology, the urgency for harmonised, high-quality international standards has never been clearer. ISO/AWI 25725 is set to play a vital role in guiding the development of accurate, reliable, and effective cancer diagnostics — supporting better health outcomes around the world.

^{The Singapore delegation team}