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The Hindu
16-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Gujarat launches India's first tribal genome project to tackle inherited diseases
Gujarat has become the first Indian State to launch a genome sequencing initiative focused exclusively on tribal communities. At a high-level consultation chaired by State Tribal Development Minister Kuber Dindor here, the Tribal Genome Sequencing Project was announced with the aim of identifying genetic health risks and enabling precision healthcare for tribal populations. The initiative will sequence the genomes of 2,000 individuals from tribal communities across 17 districts in the State. The project, titled 'Creation of Reference Genome Database for Tribal Population in Gujarat', is being implemented by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) and is part of the 2025–26 State budget. Detecting genetic disorders Mr. Dindor said the initiative will focus on early detection and targeted treatment of genetic disorders such as sickle cell anaemia, thalassaemia, and certain hereditary cancers. 'This project will serve as a milestone — bridging the gap between science and tradition — toward a healthier and more prosperous future for our tribal communities,' he said. 'It is not just a scientific initiative, but a focused campaign to bring long-term improvements in tribal health.' The genetic data collected will also be used to identify markers related to natural immunity and support the development of personalised healthcare solutions. The project will incorporate advanced infrastructure for sample collection, sequencing, and interpretation of genetic data, officials said. Experts at the event stressed that the initiative is not limited to scientific research but aims to empower tribal communities through the use of advanced technology and data. The project will involve state-of-the-art facilities for sample collection and genetic analysis.
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Gujarat becomes first state to launch genome sequencing project for tribals: Minister
Gujarat has launched a first-of-its-kind project, under which, genome sequencing of 2,000 people from various tribal communities across 17 districts in the state will be carried out to identify the 'burden of hereditary diseases', including sickle cell anemia. Gujarat is the first state to launch a tribal genome project, said Tribal Development Minister Kuber Dindor, who participated in a state-level dialogue in Gandhinagar on Tuesday. The Tribal Genome Sequencing Project, Dindor said, will prove to be a new milestone towards a prosperous and healthy future of the tribal community and act as a bridge between science and tradition. 'This project will prove to be very useful for the health welfare of tribal citizens. This project will be implemented by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Center (GBRC),' a government statement said. Through this project, it will be possible to identify genetic markers of innate immunity, cancer and other hereditary diseases, such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, etc. In addition, their health profile will be linked to basic health services. During the budget of the financial year 2025-26, a project named 'Creation of Reference Genome Database for Tribal Population in Gujarat' was approved, under which the goal was to create a reference database for the tribal community of Gujarat. MPs and MLAs from the tribal areas of Gujarat; Principal Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, Mona Khandhar; Principal Secretary of the Tribal Development Department, Shahmina Hussain; Secretary to the CM, Dr. Vikrant Pandey; Mission Director of GSBTM, Digvijaysinh Jadeja; Director of GBRC, Professor Chaitanya Joshi; Director of Tribal Development, Ashish Kumar; along with scientists and representatives of the tribal community participated in Wednesday's dialogue.
