With a successful track record of working with reputed research groups, institutions, companies and hospitals in India and around the globe, Clevergene, the Bengaluru-based startup has created a niche for itself. Through their state-of-the-art laboratory in Bengaluru, housing Next-Gen Sequencers and High-Performance Computing infrastructure, they churn out life-impacting outcomes.
An insight into Clevergene
Clevergene is a genomics company with expertise in deep tech genomics. We have two businesses verticals one is called discovery genomics which operates as a contract research outsourcing model wherein we produce genomics related projects that are outsourced. We execute them and deliver the insights back to our client and the second vertical is genetics diagnostic for the defection of cancer.
Current research
We are not a hardcore R&D company and therefore our research purposes are primarily around developing genomic assets that are fast and cost-effective – discovery genomics vertical delivers projects in cancer, cardiovascular disease, auto-immune disease diabetes and many such areas.
Exciting potential applications of genetic diagnostics
According to us, it would be in pediatric genetics – wherein we diagnose children born with the genetic disorder and the second would be reproductive genetics wherein the to-be parents can screen for their genetic status take medical decisions accordingly. The third aspect would be cancer.
Indian genome industry vis a vis West
As compared to the best I would like to say that Indian markets are still in very nascent stages now. The true potential of genomics and genetics diagnostics hasn’t been explored in the Indian health care system. There is still a lack of awareness about genomics test amongst the medical fraternity and many times we also see that there is unwillingness from the clinicians in using these tests as they are not objectively updated about the use of the test result. The most advanced would be UK and USA and a few other European countries as well. So when we compare with these countries the Indian industries still need to catch up.
Genomics and pharmaceutical companies.
We have been speaking about personalised treatment from the time when human genome projects were initiated. Personalised therapy is the current reality and Pharma companies are moving ahead of the one drug suits all policy. If you take the case of cancer there is an ample number of examples wherein it’s important to look at the molecular profile of the tumour before choosing the treatment regimen and even the drugs. Soon clinical trials will also look at the genetic background of the participants to see if the new drug works better in certain genetic group and at the same time does it have an adverse effect in certain other genetic groups. As we move forward, the future will see more of a personalised and precession therapy.
Ethical issues
It comes from an assumption private companies using genetic data. I don’t think that is something that one should worry about because there are regulations that would prevent anyone from using the personal data of an individual. So I believe there should not be any concern or ethical issues that should prevent genomics companies from going full length. The only thing is one should not go for unethical practices wherein we talk about selling the data of patients etc.
Security issues
There is always unionisation of the data which means once a sample come to a lab it is no more known as an individual’s name – it will be named with the particular ID or identifier so there itself the personal information is getting lost. This is the standard practice in any laboratory around the world. I think that itself will answer many of the security-aspect issues and questions.
Streamlining genomic education and research
I would say there aren’t enough expertise in academic yet. We need to have refresher courses to teach us cutting edge genomics and I also believe it must be taught as an extension of genetics in college. Because genetics and genomics is quite similar and it’s an application, so it should be taken as an extension of genetics and it should be taught from the college level itself.
Collaborations
So we do have several collaborations:
1. Jawaharlal Nehru centre for advanced scientific research in Bangalore where we manage their genomics facilities.
2. Collaborative project with a CSIR CFTRI in Mysore wherein we are collaborating on the scope for genome sequencing
3. Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam
Genome studies and our understanding of rare diseases
The rare disease often gets misdiagnosed or overlooked most of the time which then leads to the death of the patient or leads to a life of misery. For any disease management, the very first step is the correct diagnosis and there is nothing better than genomics base diagnosis when it comes to a rare disease. Once you have established the diagnosis then it is all about treatment or either reducing the symptoms or the severity of the disease. Here the diagnosis can help them. Prevention of birth of another child with the same disease in the family can be achieved if we diagnosed them using genomics methods. We need to increase the awareness of the utility and availability of these tests in India and clinicians should be more willing to adopt them.
Next steps / Future plans
Going forward we are building more applied genomics verticals and we have started gene lab which is our clinical diagnostic vertical offering cutting edge genomics tests for cancer and rare diseases. Our vision is to be at the forefront in India by providing the most comprehensive genomics test without any compromises. That would be our way forward.
