Genomics facility proposed at medical college hospital

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the lifestyle diseases in the state,  including diabetes,  on the rise, the government is planning to set up genome sequencing facility in the  medical college here. The genome sequencing detects variations in genome and availability of this facility at the MCH will help in formulating long-term plan for dealing with lifestyle diseases. The proposed facility was announced in  the Governor’s address to the Assembly on Monday.  

Experts say genomics is important to know the genes involved in the lifestyle diseases, including renal problems and cardiac attacks. The state will have to start from the beginning in the field of sophisticated research facility like genomics. But the situation on the ground as far as research is concerned is quite grim. The original research publications from the government centres and original research indexed medical journals are almost nil.

“We have already found out the reasons behind lifestyle diseases. We already know genes are involved and there are different centres in the country which know the reasons. But our priority right now should be to implement effective preventive strategies since we know the exact reasons,” said diabetologist Dr Jothydev Kesavadev . He said the focus should be on preventing environmental influences like unhealthy food, lack of exercise, inadequate duration of  sleep, lack of physical activity, indulgence in alcohol and smoking and highly stressful work environment.

According to Dr Jothydev, genomics will  not  bring results immediately. It will surely have an impact in the longer run may  be after 20 to 30 years.  “We need something which will have an immediate impact--a strategy to educate people about prevention, make population aware of the factors involved in lifestyle diseases. The doctors from Kerala who are working in research work in other countries can help us develop protocol for prevention.  All the best brains are working in Europe and the US whose services can be utilised for this purpose,” he added.