Precision Medicine
Kartavya Desk Staff
- •Syllabus: Healthcare and Technology*
- •Source: TH*
Context: Precision medicine is a rapidly evolving approach to healthcare that tailors treatment based on individual genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. In India, despite strides in this field, the lack of robust biobank regulations is a major hurdle in advancing precision medicine.
What is Precision Medicine and Biobanks?
• Precision medicine: An approach to medical care that customizes treatment based on the genetic makeup, lifestyle, and environmental factors of an individual, rather than adopting a generalized treatment for all.
• Biobanks: These are repositories that store biological samples such as blood, tissues, DNA, etc., alongside their genetic data, collected from consenting individuals for research purposes.
Importance of Biobanks in precision medicine:
• Data repository: Biobanks provide genetic data essential for identifying disease patterns and developing targeted therapies.
• Research backbone: They enable research into genetic disorders, chronic diseases, and personalized treatments.
• Diversity in research: Large and diverse biobanks ensure precision medicine benefits more people across varying ethnicities and demographics.
Present status in India:
• Growth of precision medicine: The Indian precision medicine market is growing rapidly, expected to be worth over $5 billion by 2030.
• Biobanks: There are 19 registered biobanks in India. Major initiatives like the Genome India Project and Phenome India have begun collecting large-scale genetic data.
• Policy gaps: India lacks comprehensive biobank regulations, which hampers growth in precision medicine.
Best Practices from foreign nations:
• Comprehensive laws: Countries like the U.S., U.K., Japan, and China have specific laws regulating biobanks, covering aspects like informed consent, privacy, and data security.
• Oversight: These nations have centralized authorities overseeing biobank operations, ensuring ethical standards and data protection.
Significance of Biobank regulations:
• Ensuring ethical standards: Clear regulations will protect individual rights, ensuring informed consent and preventing misuse of genetic data.
• Boosting research: Regulating biobanks can enhance trust, encouraging more public participation in precision medicine research.
• Global collaboration: Aligning Indian laws with global standards will facilitate international collaborations in drug development and clinical research.
Challenges:
• Lack of comprehensive regulation: No central authority governs biobank operations, leading to ethical concerns and potential misuse of data.
• Informed consent issues: Participants are often unaware of how their samples will be used, creating risks for privacy violations.
• Limited public trust: Without strong privacy protections, public participation in biobank-related research remains low.
• Access by foreign entities: Inadequate regulations allow foreign companies to access Indian genetic data without ensuring local benefits.
Way ahead:
• Formulate comprehensive biobank laws: Implement stringent biobank regulations that ensure privacy, consent, and ethical handling of samples.
• Establish central authority: Create a national body to regulate and oversee biobank operations, ensuring compliance and consistency.
• Encourage public participation: Through awareness campaigns and data protection assurances, encourage more individuals to contribute to biobanks.
• Promote research and collaboration: Facilitate collaboration between Indian and international research organizations while ensuring equitable access to research outcomes.
• Incentivize domestic drug development: Support the development of locally manufactured drugs based on biobank data to lower costs.
Conclusion:
Biobanks are pivotal in driving precision medicine forward. However, for India to become a global leader in this field, it must establish strong legal frameworks ensuring ethical practices, data security, and equitable benefits from research. These steps will build trust and ensure the advancement of personalized healthcare for all.
Insta Links:
• Phenome-India
The term ‘ACE2’ is talked about in the context of (UPSC- 2021)
a) Genes introduced in the genetically modified plants
b) Development of India’s own satellite navigation system
c) Radio collars for wildlife tracking
d) Spread of viral diseases
Answer: d)