IndiGen Genome Project

The IndiGen Genome Project is an initiative by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to sequence the genomes of ethnic Indians, aiming to create a comprehensive genetic database. Its significance lies in enhancing the understanding of genetic diseases specific to the Indian population, ultimately improving public health applications and precision medicine. This article aims to study in detail the objectives, advantages, challenges, and potential impact of the IndiGen Genome Project on healthcare in India.

About IndiGen Project

• The IndiGen Genome Project is an initiative of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to collect and sequence the genomes of ethnic Indians in order to develop better public health applications.
• The CSIR launched the IndiGen Genome Project in April 2019. It was implemented by CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), New Delhi and CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad
• The main aim of the IndiGen project is to carry out genome sequencing of 1008 Indian Individuals.
• The objective is to create a pilot database of carrier genetic diseases that will, in turn, enable an affordable carrier screening approach in India.
• The Human genome dataset would be utilized to prioritise treatments for genetic diseases specific to the Indian population.

Advantages of IndiGen Project

The IndiGen project will have the following advantages:

• Studying DNA data from patients who suffer a specific disease can also help trace the origin of that disease.
• By analysing the genomic data and reviewing the resulting medical information, victims of rare diseases can reveal the mutations that are the root cause of the disease. This data can be used to improve diagnostics and ensure better treatment.
• The IndiGen project identified many rare genetic diseases from various ethnic groups in the country. This is the first step towards delivering precision medicine to the Indian population
• The population-scale whole genome sequencing of Indian genomes (IndiGen project) provides a unique opportunity to explore the landscape of pharmacogenetic (PGx) variants associated with differential COVID-19 response among Indians, one of the world’s worst affected countries.
• The research of a specific and significant set of samples derived from a population sub-group will provide useful data on the predisposition of the various diseases common in that particular subgroup.

Need of IndiGen Project

• The Indian population is uniquely diverse. Thus, it is essential to adequately represent this diversity in terms of genomic data and develop ways to generate, maintain, analyse and communicate large-scale genomic data.
• While there are a few genes that will make an individual immune to few drugs. Genome sequencing can, to an extent, help in understanding how such an immunity comes about.
• The result will be needed to be utilised for a better understanding of the population’s genetic diversity. It will help in making clinical applications for better treatment of genetic diseases.

Challenges of IndiGen Project

The challenges of IndiGen Project are as follows:

• To successfully implement this project, scientists and technicians need to be extensively trained to determine the best course of medical action.
• The IndiGen Project targets 10,000 genomes that need substantial expansion. As this expansion happens, the sampling approach needs to be identified to gather accurate data.
• It may not necessarily be true that those who give such data are comfortable in sharing it out in the public domain or sharing it with companies that collect them.
• The next issue is how much of this data can remain in the public domain or would be shared with commercial ventures. This data contains genetic information along with personally sensitive information.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the IndiGen Genome Project represents a significant step forward in harnessing genomic data for improved healthcare outcomes in India. While it holds immense potential for advancing medical research and personalized treatments, the project also faces challenges related to data privacy, ethical considerations, and the need for robust training for professionals involved. By addressing these challenges and leveraging the rich genetic diversity of the Indian population, the IndiGen project could pave the way for transformative advances in public health and precision medicine in the years to come.

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