Hanoi, April 7 -- Vietnamese scientists are working to uncover the genetic causes of several groups of rare diseases, with newly established genomic datasets expected to lay a foundation for precision medicine and improved healthcare outcomes.

Globally, around 7,000 rare diseases have been identified and described, affecting an estimated 300 million people. About 80% of these conditions are caused by genetic factors, with 58% detected in newborns and young children. Rare diseases are responsible for approximately 30% of deaths among children under five. However, only about 200,000 cases have been successfully diagnosed in terms of underlying causes, and merely 5% of rare diseases currently have available treatments.

In Vietnam, about 10...