Largest genomics project to study Indian population

A UK- based genomics data platform and an American genetics company on Sunday collaborated to create the world’s largest project of its kind to study Indian population.

Cambridge- headquartered Global Gene Corp ( GGC) said its new multiyear tie- up with Regeneron Genetics Centre ( RGC), a whollyowned subsidiary of New York- based Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, is aimed at finding innovative diagnosis and therapies for rare diseases.

“We believe that genomics will help India achieve a paradigm shift in healthcare,” said Deepak Bagla, managing director and CEO of Invest India, the country’s investment promotion and facilitation agency which is supporting GGC to build world- class capabilities in Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Invest India said the latest collaboration marks a step forward in the Indian government’s “Healthcare for All” plans, particularly with the Ayushmann Bharat initiative announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Genomic technology is important to achieve this mission. This investment by Global Gene Corp and Regeneron will create infrastructure, jobs and opportunity for the future in India,” Mr Bagla said.

Genetic evidence has revolutionised scientific discovery and drug development in recent years by providing clear links between certain genes and disease.

Sumit Jamuar, chairman and CEO of GGC, explained that this “genomics revolution” is crucial to the delivery of improved healthcare for all. His company is working to solve the problem of genomic data bias — where 81 per cent of genomics data comes from Caucasian populations of European ancestry; India with 1.3 billion people represents 20 per cent of the world's population, yet its population contributes less than 1 per cent of genomic data and insights.

The new tie- up with RGC will sequence the exomes of people from the Indian subcontinent in order to gain insights into allelic ( alternative forms of genes) architecture and specified diseases.