No phenotype information particulars in GenomeIndia’s proposal name

DBT has accomplished the proposal name with out disclosing what phenotype information can be found.
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On January 9, 2025, the Division of Biotechnology (DBT) referred to as for proposals on ‘Translational analysis utilizing genomeIndia information’ from scientists based mostly in India. On February 20, eight days earlier than the February 28 deadline for submitting proposals, DBT prolonged the deadline until March 31, 2025.

The ten,000 human genome venture had collected blood samples and related phenotype information from over 20,000 people representing 83 inhabitants teams — 30 tribal and 53 non-tribal populations — unfold throughout India. Of the 20,000 people, preliminary findings based mostly on the genetic info of 9,772 people have been revealed within the journal Nature Genetics as a Touch upon April 8.

The Remark article clearly listed the phenotype information collected from over 20,000 folks, together with top, weight, hip circumference, waist circumference and blood strain. From blood samples collected, full blood counts in addition to biochemistry information akin to glucose measurements, lipid profiles, and liver and kidney operate checks have been measured and can be found together with genome information of 9,772 people. Surprisingly, neither the primary proposal name nor the addendum extending the deadline for submitting the proposals listed what phenotype information have been obtainable to researchers. Even the GenomeIndia web site doesn’t have that info. The primary time that info turned public was when the Remark article was revealed on April 8. However the deadline for submitting the proposals was March 31.

“The anthropometric and blood biochemistry information have been solely collected to make sure that the samples coated beneath the GenomeIndia venture have been from wholesome people,” says a DBT spokesperson in an e-mail to The Hindu.

“The GenomeIndia venture has not revealed an information dictionary nor launched detailed info on the obtainable phenotype metadata of the genotyped samples within the venture. A Commentary within the Nature Genetics journal has been the primary and solely public communication concerning the particulars of phenotype metadata within the venture, until date. Even earlier than the publication of this text, DBT has accomplished a proposal inviting researchers for utilising the GenomeIndia information,” says Dr. Padmanaban V, Assistant Professor within the Division of Biochemistry at CMC Vellore.

By the way, the addendum revealed on February 20 extending the deadline to March 31 famous that DBT had “obtained many queries concerning the kind of information that will likely be launched”. Regardless of saying “related phenotype information (as per request)” will likely be supplied beneath Managed (Managed) Entry, what phenotype information that have been obtainable was not supplied. “Regardless of admitting that there have been many queries associated to the info, there nonetheless wasn’t any info on the listing of accessible phenotypes that researchers can request even on this doc,” says Dr. Padmanaban.

Additionally, the Remark piece revealed within the journal, which is the one place the phenotype information is collected and obtainable, was talked about, is behind a paywall, thus limiting some researchers from studying it. The spokesperson factors out that the One Nation One Subscription scheme will present entry to analysis articles and journal publications to college students, school and researchers. Nevertheless, the One Nation One Subscription scheme presently gives free entry to journal papers to researchers and college students solely from public establishments.

Whereas researchers from 20 establishments concerned within the GenomeIndia venture would concentrate on the phenotype information obtainable, others could be unaware of it. “Researchers who weren’t a part of the GenomeIndia venture staff didn’t have info on the obtainable phenotype metadata,” says Dr. Padmanaban. “Not solely GenomeIndia information however any organic information obtainable at IBDC might be accessed by researchers as per provisions in Biotech PRIDE Pointers and FeED Protocols, that are in concord with practices adopted by worldwide databases,” the spokesperson says.