The National Biobank initiative, part of the Phenome India Project, is an exciting and significant step toward advancing healthcare research and improving public health in India.
The National Biobank serves as the core of the Phenome India Project and is designed to collect and analyze a wide range of health-related data from a diverse group of individuals across India. This initiative aims to improve our understanding of health and disease in the Indian population, which is crucial for developing tailored healthcare solutions. Here's a detailed overview:
Inauguration and Launch: The National Biobank was inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Science & Technology and is hosted at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB).
Cohort Study: The Biobank will be at the heart of a nationwide cohort study, collecting genomic, clinical, and lifestyle data from 10,000 individuals across India. This will provide a rich dataset of health information that captures the diversity of the Indian population.
Purpose: The project aims to gather data from people of various geographies, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds. This data will be instrumental in understanding how genetic and environmental factors contribute to diseases and health outcomes in the Indian context.
Long-Term Data: The study is designed to track the health trajectories of individuals over several years, making it a longitudinal study. This approach allows researchers to observe changes in health status and disease progression over time, providing valuable insights into disease prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment efficacy.
Disease Focus: The National Biobank will help uncover patterns in diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and rare genetic disorders. This is particularly important for India, where many health challenges are unique due to its genetic diversity, dietary patterns, and lifestyle factors.
Gene-Environment Interactions: One of the key aspects of the project is to study gene-environment interactions and how individuals respond to various treatments based on their genetic makeup. This can help scientists develop personalized treatment strategies that are more effective for Indian populations.
The Phenome India Project, formally known as the Phenome India-CSIR Health Cohort Knowledgebase (PI-CheCK), is an ambitious initiative launched on December 7, 2023 by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Core Focus: The primary focus of the project is to develop India-specific risk prediction models for cardio-metabolic diseases. These include common diseases like diabetes, liver diseases, and cardiovascular conditions, which have become significant public health challenges in India.
Participant Demographics: The study will involve around 10,000 individuals—mainly CSIR employees, pensioners, and their spouses. The participants come from 17 states and 24 cities, ensuring a wide geographical representation across the country.
Data Collection: The data collected will include:
Clinical questionnaires: Capturing detailed information on medical history, symptoms, and other relevant health information.
Lifestyle and dietary habits: Understanding the role of diet and physical activity in disease risk.
Anthropometric measurements: Including height, weight, BMI, etc.
Imaging and scanning data: Providing insights into bodily functions and the progression of diseases.
Biochemical and molecular data: This includes genomic information and other molecular markers that will help identify disease risks at a deeper level.
Improved Healthcare Models: The data generated from the National Biobank will help researchers develop more accurate risk prediction models for a range of diseases, specifically those that are prevalent in India, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. These models will enable early diagnosis and better management of diseases.
Personalized Medicine: By studying genomic data alongside lifestyle and clinical data, the project aims to contribute to the development of personalized medicine tailored to the Indian population, thus improving the effectiveness of treatments.
Support for Public Health Strategies: The data will also assist policymakers and public health experts in designing more effective prevention programs, health interventions, and early detection strategies.
Genomic Data: Understanding the genetic factors that contribute to disease susceptibility in the Indian population is crucial. This can lead to the discovery of genetic markers for early diagnosis, as well as insights into gene-environment interactions. India’s diverse population makes it an ideal setting to study how different genetic backgrounds influence health outcomes.
Lifestyle Data: Many chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, are influenced by lifestyle choices. The National Biobank will capture a wide range of lifestyle factors, such as diet, exercise, smoking, and stress, providing researchers with an understanding of how these factors contribute to disease risk and progression.
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We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.
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