Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, May 13: A major Indian genomic research project has revealed that Indians possess highly distinct genetic patterns compared to Western populations, raising concerns that medical treatments and disease risk models developed in Europe and the United States may not always work effectively for Indian patients.

The findings emerged from the GenomeIndia initiative, a large-scale study involving DNA analysis of over 9,700 individuals from across the country. Researchers said the study highlights the urgent need for India to develop its own healthcare, diagnostic, and treatment frameworks tailored to local genetic diversity.

The research, published as a preprint on medRxiv and yet to undergo peer review, involved participants from multiple linguistic, cultural, tribal, and non-tribal communities across India.

Scientists associated with the project said the study uncovered a vast number of previously undocumented genetic variations unique to Indian populations, many of which could significantly influence disease risk, inherited disorders, and drug response.

Mohammed Faruq, scientist at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology and one of the researchers involved in the project, described the initiative as a major milestone in India’s healthcare research.

“This initiative has brought forward a huge set of novel findings from different Indian populations. Tribal communities especially possess unique genomic structures, and understanding them is important for better healthcare and treatment strategies,” he said.

One of the study’s key findings was that several Indian tribal populations carry inherited disease risks at rates much higher than many globally studied populations, including Ashkenazi Jews and Finnish communities, which are historically known for concentrated genetic disorders.

Researchers found that certain tribal groups showed significantly higher risks for conditions such as sickle cell disease, metabolic disorders, and endocrine-related illnesses.

The study also warned that genetic markers commonly used in European medical research may not accurately predict disease risks among Indian patients.

According to the researchers, relying solely on Western genetic studies for disease prediction and treatment could result in inaccurate medical assessments for Indians.

The project identified nearly 1.5 million protein-coding genetic variants in Indian populations, many of which are absent from existing global medical databases.

Experts said the findings underline the need for India-specific genetic counselling, newborn screening programmes, rare disease diagnostics, and precision medicine frameworks.

The GenomeIndia initiative involved collaboration between 13 leading institutions, including AIIMS Jodhpur, IISER Pune, NIMHANS Bengaluru, IIT Jodhpur, and Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre.

Researchers said the study marks an important step toward building an independent healthcare model based on India’s own genomic realities rather than depending entirely on Western medical standards.