New Delhi, July 7, 2025 — Union Minister of State for Science & Technology and CSIR Vice President, Dr. Jitendra Singh, inaugurated the Phenome India National Biobank at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) today. This cutting-edge facility aims to build a comprehensive, longitudinal health database by collecting genomic, lifestyle, and clinical data from 10,000 individuals across India.
Modelled after the UK Biobank but uniquely adapted to India’s genetic and cultural diversity, the initiative will play a pivotal role in driving personalized medicine, early diagnosis, and targeted treatment for complex diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and rare genetic conditions.
“This Biobank marks a turning point for healthcare in India,” said Dr. Singh. “It opens the door to individualised treatment based on one’s genetic makeup, lifestyle, and environment.”
The Biobank will enable data-driven insights into gene-environment interactions, support AI-powered diagnostics, and fuel advancements in CRISPR-based therapies. Dr. Singh emphasized the importance of inter-institutional collaboration and translating research into real-world healthcare outcomes.
Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR, praised the initiative as a “bold step” toward self-reliance in healthcare data, noting its potential to set global standards. She highlighted CSIR’s work in sickle cell anaemia, affordable diagnostics, and community-level health interventions.
CSIR-IGIB Director Dr. Souvik Maiti shared the institute’s past breakthroughs in human genome sequencing, COVID-19 genomics, and drug genome projects, reaffirming its commitment to solving local health challenges with global technologies.
The Phenome India Project, under which the Biobank operates, is a long-term cohort study expected to significantly advance India’s position in precision health and genomic science.
