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India Launches National Biobank to Pave Way for Personalised Healthcare Revolution

10,000-person cohort study to fuel AI-driven diagnostics, gene-guided therapies, and indigenous CRISPR research

• By Pooja Chaturvedi Sah
• New Delhi
• Jul 07, 2025

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In a milestone poised to transform India’s healthcare landscape, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Sunday, 6 July, inaugurated the Phenome India National Biobank, alongside the country’s first longitudinal population health study, at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) in New Delhi.

Designed as India’s first large-scale health data repository, the biobank aims to collect genomic, lifestyle, and clinical data from 10,000 individuals nationwide. Scientists hope the initiative will unlock tailored medical interventions, revolutionise drug discovery, and enable a shift from reactive to predictive healthcare.

Mapping India’s Genetic Landscape

Modelled on global precedents like the UK Biobank but customised to India’s unique diversity, the National Biobank will capture information spanning regions, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds.

The biobank forms the cornerstone of the broader Phenome India Project—a multi-decade initiative focused on understanding how genetics and environment shape disease patterns and health outcomes.

“This is not a theoretical idea anymore. We are entering an era where healthcare will no longer be one-size-fits-all. Every Indian can look forward to treatment aligned with their genetic profile, lifestyle and environment,” Dr. Jitendra Singh said while addressing scientists and researchers at the launch.

A Vital Tool for Tackling India’s Health Challenges

Highlighting India’s complex health landscape, Dr. Singh pointed to central obesity as an example. Despite many Indians appearing lean, they often harbour dangerous visceral fat, increasing their risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

“Population-specific data is critical to designing effective interventions. That’s why this Biobank matters,” he noted.

Dr. Singh added that the high-resolution datasets emerging from the biobank will feed advanced technologies like AI-driven diagnostics and gene-guided therapies, enabling quicker and more precise decision-making for clinicians and researchers.

“India is no longer lagging behind—we are among the early adopters, sometimes even ahead,” he said, citing progress in fields such as quantum computing, genome editing, and the national fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Connecting Research to Real-World Solutions

The minister called for seamless collaboration across research institutions, government departments, and industry partners to accelerate translation of scientific breakthroughs into real-world solutions.

“Research must translate into tangible solutions for people. Data is the bridge between innovation and impact,” Dr. Singh emphasised.

The Phenome India Project will be a long-term resource, tracking health indicators and outcomes over several years. Scientists hope this longitudinal approach will reveal new insights into disease progression, treatment responses, and the biological roots of illness in the Indian population.

“A Baby Step with the DNA of a Giant Leap”

Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), hailed the launch as a crucial step toward India’s self-reliance in healthcare analytics.

“It’s a baby step with the DNA of a giant leap,” she said. She voiced confidence that India’s diverse health dataset could eventually match or surpass international efforts like the UK Biobank.

Dr. Kalaiselvi also highlighted CSIR’s leadership in indigenous CRISPR-based therapies and its collaborative work with tribal communities to tackle rare diseases such as sickle cell anaemia.

IGIB’s Two-Decade Journey in Genomics

Reflecting on IGIB’s pioneering work, Dr. Souvik Maiti, Director of CSIR-IGIB, underscored the institute’s track record in genomics over the past twenty years.

“We were the first institute in India to begin decoding the human genome at a time when sequencing tools were practically non-existent,” he said.

Dr. Maiti cited achievements like India’s first human genome sequencing efforts, the development of over 300 diagnostic tools for rare disorders, and contributions to the COVID-19 genome sequencing effort.

He also highlighted newer initiatives including breast cancer genomics, indigenous CRISPR trials for sickle cell disease, and research expanding into space biology and AI-based fitness assessments for the Indian Air Force.

“Our mission is to use global science to solve local challenges,” he said.

A Future of Personalised Medicine

Experts believe the National Biobank will be instrumental in driving personalised medicine, enabling treatments tailored to individual genetic profiles and environmental exposures. The database is also expected to empower AI tools in diagnostics, drug discovery, and public health planning—critical for managing India’s large and diverse population.

As India positions itself at the forefront of genomics and precision health, the Phenome India initiative could redefine how diseases are understood, diagnosed, and treated.

“Today, we hold the promise of a future where every Indian may receive individualised treatment tailored to their genetic makeup, lifestyle, and environment,” Dr. Singh concluded. “This transition to personalised healthcare is no longer theoretical—it is becoming reality, driven by indigenous innovations.”