<p>Francis S Collins, Director, US National Institutes of Health, closely involved in the pathbreaking achievements in human genomic research during the last decade, feels we are at the cusp of a revolution that is opening up immense possibilities in disorder prevention and therapy including that for cancer and diabetes.<br /><br />In his centenary lecture at the Indian Institute of Science on Saturday, Collins took the audience on a journey through the decoding of the human genome, the molecular causes of diseases and the way it has helped in understanding how life works.<br /><br />Collins led an international team of scientists which made history in 2003 by announcing they had decoded the entire human genome. Later, he moved beyond mere code-breaking, to take up an international project to create a genomic atlas of clusters of disease-causing snippets of DNA. The project catalogues human variability and identifies patterns of genes that are linked to health and disease.<br /><br />He said as many as 4,400 disorders or diseases, including certain types of cancer, diabetes caused due to variation in the pattern of genes, have been identified. However, therapy and treatment have been found for only 250 disorders so far. But Collins is optimistic that the future in bright in finding cures for more disorders.<br /><br />Collins said the decline in the cost of sequencing the human genome will fuel a rapid expansion in the medical applications of DNA sequencing and related technologies. The cost of sequencing the first human genome was about $400 million. Today, the cost of sequencing one genome stands at $8,000 and within the next five years, one could sequence an individual’s genome for $100, Collins pointed out.<br /><br />The visiting scientist said genomic exploration has also resulted in cataloguing genetic changes in 20 major types and subtypes of cancer. “The opportunities in the field to find new therapies directed at the molecular level are immense. The best brains in the world need to come together and it is my hope and expectation that over the next one or two decades genomic discoveries will lead to an increasingly long list of health benefits for people across the world,” Collins said.<br /><br />Collins and his team from NIH will sign an agreement with the Health Ministry on collaborative research in diabetes in New Delhi next week.<br /></p>
<p>Francis S Collins, Director, US National Institutes of Health, closely involved in the pathbreaking achievements in human genomic research during the last decade, feels we are at the cusp of a revolution that is opening up immense possibilities in disorder prevention and therapy including that for cancer and diabetes.<br /><br />In his centenary lecture at the Indian Institute of Science on Saturday, Collins took the audience on a journey through the decoding of the human genome, the molecular causes of diseases and the way it has helped in understanding how life works.<br /><br />Collins led an international team of scientists which made history in 2003 by announcing they had decoded the entire human genome. Later, he moved beyond mere code-breaking, to take up an international project to create a genomic atlas of clusters of disease-causing snippets of DNA. The project catalogues human variability and identifies patterns of genes that are linked to health and disease.<br /><br />He said as many as 4,400 disorders or diseases, including certain types of cancer, diabetes caused due to variation in the pattern of genes, have been identified. However, therapy and treatment have been found for only 250 disorders so far. But Collins is optimistic that the future in bright in finding cures for more disorders.<br /><br />Collins said the decline in the cost of sequencing the human genome will fuel a rapid expansion in the medical applications of DNA sequencing and related technologies. The cost of sequencing the first human genome was about $400 million. Today, the cost of sequencing one genome stands at $8,000 and within the next five years, one could sequence an individual’s genome for $100, Collins pointed out.<br /><br />The visiting scientist said genomic exploration has also resulted in cataloguing genetic changes in 20 major types and subtypes of cancer. “The opportunities in the field to find new therapies directed at the molecular level are immense. The best brains in the world need to come together and it is my hope and expectation that over the next one or two decades genomic discoveries will lead to an increasingly long list of health benefits for people across the world,” Collins said.<br /><br />Collins and his team from NIH will sign an agreement with the Health Ministry on collaborative research in diabetes in New Delhi next week.<br /></p>
