Expression of Interest for Collaborative R&D for Phenome India- A long-term longitudinal observational cohort study of health outcomes (CSIR-Cohort)

Large-scale phenome data from longitudinal cohort studies are critical for investigating the cause of disease and to establish links between risk factors and health outcomes. When combined with prospective collection of biological samples and “omic” analysis using big-data approach, it can yield a wealth of information in establishing disease burden, development of diagnostic and prognostic markers for communicable and chronic non-communicable diseases. Currently, most of these risk prediction algorithms are based on epidemiological data from Caucasian population and there is ample evidence that they are inaccurate for the Indian population due to ethnic diversity, varied dietary and lifestyle patterns, and altered risk profiles. In this context, it is critical that India-specific risk prediction algorithms are developed for communicable diseases like COVID 19 and chronic cardio-metabolic diseases. Currently, India lacks large prospective cohorts that are representative of the vast and diverse Indian population, which is a primary roadblock in developing disease risk prediction scores that are clinically applicable to the Indian population.

CSIR has embarked on a multi-centric program to develop a longitudinal cohort of about 10,000 CSIR employees and their dependent family members. The employees of the 38 constituent laboratories with a pan-India presence will be representative of the vast and diverse Indian population. The study will involve longitudinal collection and biobanking of biological samples with concurrent collection of multi-parametric data and will include clinical questionnaire, lifestyle and dietary habits, biochemical data, and molecular data including genomics, plasma proteomics, metabolomics, and metagenomics. These data will be archived in a central data server and analyzed using artificial intelligence-based tools to identify risk factors and develop risk matrix that will be applicable to the Indian population.

Towards this CSIR-IGIB is inviting Expression of Interest (EoI) from academic and commercial organization with specialized know-how/ IP/ infrastructure etc for sharing of expertise, knowledge and resources for exploring R&D in the above mentioned scientific area(s).

About CSIR IGIB:

CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) is a constituent national laboratory under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR, India) and a premier institution engaged in research of national importance in the areas of genomics, genomic biology, molecular medicine and bioinformatics. The institute has a stated mission to translate concepts developed in basic biological research to commercially viable technologies for health care.

Interested organizations may send an Expression of Interest to the following:

Director, CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology,
Attn: Dr. Sridhar Sivasubbu, Senior Principal Scientist & Head-Business Development,
CSIR-IGIB, Sukdev Vihar, Mathura Road, New Delhi 110 025
Email: director@igib.res.in ; headbdmg@igib.res.in

For more details, visit www.igib.res.in