Arjuna Kumarasuriyar: Shaping genomics in Asia and beyond

For Arjuna Kumarasuriyar, a career in biotechnology has been defined by global impact, cross-cultural leadership, and the evolution of a transformative technology – genomics. After graduating from The University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours) and completing a PhD in 2009, Arjuna found himself at the forefront of one of the most revolutionary shifts in modern science.

Seventeen years ago, he joined Illumina, a San Diego-based biotechnology company that develops tools for sequencing, genotyping and gene expression. Starting in Singapore, Arjuna rose to lead sales operations across most of Asia (excluding Australia, China, Japan and New Zealand). From there, he established and expanded Illumina’s commercial operations infrastructure – covering systems, analytics, training and process management – across Asia, growing the team to 70 people by 2022.

Following a global restructure, Arjuna took on the role of General Manager of Illumina’s Japan business, a position that placed him at the centre of efforts to advance genomics in a country where one in 2 people are diagnosed with cancer.

Unlocking the power of genomics

For Arjuna, the ‘holy grail’ of genomics is its application in healthcare – particularly in earlier diagnosis, better targeted therapies, and reducing suffering for those living with undiagnosed diseases. “We’ve been working to establish whole genome sequencing under reimbursement for patients with rare diseases,” he explains. “For these individuals, just getting a diagnosis can take years. Even if a treatment doesn’t exist yet, having an answer matters.”

Much of his recent work has focused on advocacy – engaging with regulators, pharma, multinational labs, and patient groups to promote access to advanced diagnostic technologies. “You can’t do it alone,” he says. Over the past nine months, Arjuna has worked with several other companies to establish a new industry organisation to represent the field. “We wanted something more altruistic – an industry voice not dependent on a single company’s commercial interests.”

From lab to leadership

Arjuna’s biotech story started at UQ, where he met his wife while completing honours in the Department of Anatomy. When their lab was relocated to Singapore during their PhDs, they moved with it. That global mindset has carried through his career.

“I joined Illumina just 6 months after they acquired sequencing technology,” he recalls. “I spent the first part of my career explaining what next-generation sequencing was. Now, everyone knows.” He’s watched the technology become faster, cheaper, more accurate, and more accessible. “When I was at UQ, the Human Genome Project had just been announced. Back then, it cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Now, we can do the same work in a day for a few hundred dollars.”

Arjuna has led sequencing programs across oncology, reproductive health, infectious disease, and rare diseases—and he’s proud of his role in mentoring others along the way.

“Coaching, mentoring and training people has been one of the most rewarding parts of my job.” 

Biotech on the horizon

While sequencing remains close to Arjuna’s heart, he sees 2 new frontiers reshaping the future: multiomics and AI. “Multiomics gives us a multidimensional understanding of biology,” he says. “But the data is massive. That’s where AI comes in – to interrogate it, find patterns and generate new insights.”

He believes the next phase of innovation will target smaller, more unique biological cases – those not served by today’s blockbuster drugs.

“We’ve tackled the big problems. Now, it’s about tailoring solutions for edge cases, which means understanding biology on an entirely new level.” 

Memories of UQ and advice for the future

Some of Arjuna’s fondest memories are rooted in the social and interdisciplinary environment at UQ. “The Great Court, the lake, the sandstone buildings – I always feel nostalgic when I’m back.” He fondly recalls chats between students from engineering, arts and science that sparked multidisciplinary ideas. “That cross-pollination is vital to innovation.”

He also remembers the passion of his lecturers. “They weren’t just teaching to exams – they were sharing their excitement about science. Most of them were active researchers, and you could feel their energy.”

Arjuna’s advice for students is clear: “Do it.” He encourages biotech students to explore widely, pursue what genuinely interests them, and engage with industry early. “You don’t need to be an expert after 3 years. You need to find your passion and start down that path.”

He also urges students to network and volunteer. “I had a summer job in third year where I got to help with stem cell legislation in Queensland. I was in Parliament House, writing briefs for politicians, calling UQ professors to get answers. That experience came from a conversation, from just talking to people about what I was interested in.”

Building the future of biotech

As he transitions into the next chapter of his career, Arjuna remains committed to advancing the role of genomics in healthcare. Whether through his advocacy for rare disease patients, mentoring the next generation, or helping launch an industry organisation, he is focused on creating meaningful change. “Biotech is about unlocking human potential – biologically, personally, and socially. And we’ve only just scratched the surface.”