Govt declares major projects to exploit gene data pool

Govt declares major projects to exploit gene data pool
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI, FEB 15: After losing out on mapping the human gene sequence, Indian scientists are keen to use the vast data that has been unearthed. Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare C P Thakur announced major research projects on Wednesday that deal with HIV and hepatitis vaccine, among other ventures. The ministry has approved Rs 100 crore to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to fund research over the next five years.

``We have to catch up with the West,'' Thakur said. ``We won't repeat the study of the genome but we will look into the prospects of practical applications of the data available.'' The decision to fund was taken after a meeting of four working groups today. Thakur said they have identified projects that will benefit the country.

According to ICMR director-general Prof N.K. Ganguly, there will be 10 new projects on genomic information that will work on new drugs for malaria, HIV, dengue, hepatitis and Japanese encephalitis.

Ganguly spoke about the ongoing efforts to develop vaccines against HIV, rheumatic fever and heart disease. ``This is especially important because such heart disease has a high mortality rate due to expensive valve replacement technique.''

To implement the programmes, the ministry will set up bioinformatics centres of ICMR at PGI, Chandigarh; AIIMS; SGPI, Lucknow; IICB, Kolkata; Chitra Thirunal, Thirvanathpuram; and IRR, Mumbai.

``Doctors also requested that molecular biology be introduced in the syllabus so the medical community is more informed about developments,'' Thakur said. They have also identified six sites in the country to set up ethical and legal cells.

As the genomic findings usher in the era of predictive medicine, functional genomics will play a crucial role, the minister said. An on-going project on thalaessemia has identified six areas with high rates of occurrence.

``For years, people have dreamt of the ultimate cure for genetic diseases by correcting the defective gene,'' Thakur said.