The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has announced the successful conclusion of the first phase of its 'Phenome India-CSIR Health Cohort Knowledgebase' (PI-CHeCK) project, an initiative in health monitoring. To celebrate this milestone, CSIR hosted a special event, 'Phenome India Unboxing 1.0', at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) in Goa on June 3, 2024.
Many renowned individuals in attendance included Dr. Souvik Maiti, the director of the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB); Dr. Sunil Kumar Singh, the director of the CSIR-NIO; Dr. Shantanu Sengupta, the senior principal scientist at the CSIR-IGIB; Dr. Rajendra Prasad Singh, the senior principal scientist at the CSIR; and Dr. Viren Sardana, the senior scientist at the Centre of Excellence for Intelligent Sensors and Systems.
Dr. Shantanu Sengupta highlighted the significance of this day for Indian healthcare, pointing out the high incidence of cardio-metabolic diseases in India and the unclear reasons behind this trend. He stressed the necessity of moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach, noting that risk factors for these diseases vary significantly between individuals and between populations in the West and India.
This project marks the first pan-India longitudinal study aimed at developing a prediction model for cardio-metabolic diseases, including diabetes, liver diseases, and cardiac conditions. Dr. Sengupta emphasized that understanding the genetic and lifestyle factors contributing to these diseases is essential for developing effective prevention and management strategies.
The PI-CHeCK project, launched on December 7, 2023, has exceeded its target by collecting nearly 10,000 samples from CSIR employees, pensioners, and their spouses across 17 states and 24 cities. This comprehensive dataset includes clinical questionnaires, lifestyle and dietary habits, anthropometric measurements, imaging and scanning data, and extensive biochemical and molecular information.
Dr. Sengupta encouraged other organizations to undertake similar sample collection drives, suggesting that collecting up to one million samples could significantly redefine health parameters nationwide. He mentioned that CSIR has developed a cost-effective standard operating procedure for sample collection, making it easier for other entities to replicate their efforts.
The project aims to create a detailed phenome database specific to the Indian population, addressing the limitations of current risk prediction algorithms that are primarily based on data from Caucasian populations. Given India's ethnic diversity and varied genetic and lifestyle factors, there is a pressing need for India-specific risk prediction models.
The Phenome India project is part of CSIR's broader commitment to advancing precision medicine through predictive, personalized, participatory, and preventive healthcare. By generating a comprehensive and representative phenome database, the project aims to enhance the accuracy of risk prediction algorithms and promote similar initiatives across India.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)
