Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Vice President of CSIR, Dr. Jitendra Singh, today inaugurated the state-of-the-art Phenome India “National Biobank” at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) in New Delhi. This groundbreaking facility represents a significant step towards creating a comprehensive longitudinal health database and advancing personalised medicine in India.
A Bold Step Towards Personalised Healthcare
As reported by pib.gov.in, the newly launched Biobank will form the foundation of a nationwide cohort study, collecting genomic, clinical, and lifestyle data from 10,000 individuals across India. Inspired by the UK Biobank, the Indian version has been uniquely tailored to reflect the country’s immense diversity in geography, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds. This vast and varied dataset is expected to transform disease diagnosis and treatment, particularly for complex conditions such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and rare genetic disorders.
While addressing scientists and researchers, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated, “We are entering an era where every Indian could potentially receive treatment customised to their genetic profile, lifestyle, and environment. This shift to personalised healthcare is no longer a distant dream—it is fast becoming a reality, powered by our own scientific advancements.”
Targeting India’s Unique Health Challenges
Dr. Singh also underlined the importance of population-specific strategies in healthcare. He pointed to India’s high prevalence of central obesity, even among individuals who appear lean, as a prime example of why standard global models often fall short in the Indian context. “Our health challenges are deeply complex and diverse. The Biobank is key to decoding this complexity,” he noted.
Accelerating Innovation and Scientific Leadership
Highlighting India’s rapid scientific progress, Dr. Singh cited recent strides in quantum technology, genome editing using CRISPR, and efforts against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). “India is not catching up anymore—we are taking the lead in many areas,” he said. The Biobank, he added, will play a crucial role in supporting AI-powered diagnostics and gene-targeted therapies. It will generate high-quality, individual-level data to drive these innovations.
Strengthening Collaboration and Translational Research
Dr. Singh called for stronger partnerships between research institutions, government bodies such as the Department of Biotechnology, and the private sector. He emphasised the importance of translating research from the laboratory into real-world solutions. This is especially crucial in critical areas like AMR and drug development. “Our research must serve both the market and the people,” he asserted.
Phenome India: A Vision for Long-Term Health Insights
Launched under the Phenome India Project, the Biobank is part of a long-term initiative to track individuals’ health trajectories over several years. This will help researchers uncover disease patterns, gene-environment interactions, and personalised responses to therapies—within the Indian population.
CSIR Leadership Celebrates a New Milestone
Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, lauded the Biobank as a visionary initiative. She said it lays the foundation for India’s self-reliance in healthcare data. She called it a “baby step” with the potential to evolve into a global gold standard. “With the depth and diversity of India’s data, we could someday surpass even the UK Biobank,” she said. Dr. Kalaiselvi also highlighted CSIR’s contributions to affordable diagnostics and indigenous CRISPR therapies for sickle cell anaemia. She further emphasised CSIR’s efforts in extending healthcare outreach to tribal communities.
IGIB: At the Forefront of Genomics Research
Dr. Souvik Maiti, Director of CSIR-IGIB, reflected on the institute’s pioneering work in genomics. “We were the first in India to decode the human genome at a time when sequencing tools were almost non-existent,” he recalled. Over the years, IGIB has developed over 300 genetic diagnostic tests for rare diseases. It also led extensive genome sequencing during the COVID-19 pandemic and launched India’s first drug genome project.
Dr. Maiti also highlighted IGIB’s current focus areas. These include breast cancer genomics, women-centric studies, and CRISPR-based therapies for sickle cell disease. The institute is now expanding its research into space biology and AI-based pilot fitness evaluation in partnership with the Indian Air Force. “Our mission is to harness global technologies to solve India’s local health challenges,” he concluded.