`Time to ramp up study on gene-based cure'

KOCHI: The lack of research into population-based genetic profile of Indians is limiting our ability to find new cures to geneticallylinked diseases, said Dr Sekar Kathiresan, associate professor, Harvard medical school while delivering the keynote address at the sixth annual international conference on “NextGen Genomics, Biology , Bioinformatics and Technologies (NGBT)“, organized by the SciGenom Research Foundation in Kochi.
While many countries in the West have developed DNA profiles of their populace, based on which medicines were manufactured, India did not have enough advanced institutions to carry out the scientific work nor did the government allow DNA profiles to be taken out of the country ,“ Kathiresan said.
As a result, the country was a couple of decades behind the West in gene-based therapies. “However, now the scenario is different.There are institutions here in India, which can carry out such research. A major international study of the heart and diabetic genetic profile of one lakh people is being planned in South Asia and a good number of them will be from India. The study will give us an idea as to why Indians are vulnerable to heart attack and diabetes,“ he added.
Kathiresan was a member of the Precision Medicine Initiative, launched by US President Obama. The initiative aimed at providing specific treatment by taking into account individual differences in people's genes, environments and lifestyles. The research led to making of medicines that mimic mutant genes responsible for preventing heart attacks in individuals.In his study on the US population he identified genes responsible for heart attacks in individuals. A mutant gene, which lower the risk was also discovered, leading to the development of a group of medicines which help in reducing cholesterol levels. “By next year, we will know whether they will prevent heart attacks as the results of the medication effect will be out by then. As of now, it is reducing cholesterol levels in patients,“ Kathiresan said.
Dr Kathiresan who had an interaction with cardiologists in the city said the new study on Indian population will answer questions as to why young Indians are falling victim to heart diseases. “The genetic profile of Indians should be interesting. There should be as many as at least 3,000 types.Also there is a huge variation between the North Indian and South Indian population as 55% of the former exhibit European DNA traits while the remaining had ancient Indian genetic profile.In case of South Indians, it is reverse,“ he added.