Medical and Health Genomics of South Asia

Professor Dhavendra Kumar is a Visiting Professor within the Genomic Policy Unit, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, at the University of South Wales; and a Consultant in Clinical Genetics at the University Hospital of Wales, Institute of Medical Genetics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom. He is one of the Consultants for the All Wales Medical Genetics Service and the lead Clinician for Clinical Cardiovascular Genetics. After qualifying in Medicine from the King George’s Medical College, University of Lucknow, India, he completed postgraduate training in Pediatrics with a MD. Since 1980 he has pursued a career in Medical Genetics in the UK. In 1990 he became a Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Genetics. He is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics (FACMG) and as well as Royal Colleges of Physicians (FRCP-London and FRCP-Ireland) and Pediatrics and Child Health (FRCPCH-UK). Dr. Kumaraswamy Thangaraj is Deputy Director at the Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology & Director, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. His major research interest sits in the fields of human origins, health and disease. He is interested in understanding the complex origin and affinities of Indian populations, using the genomics variations of contemporary populations and ancient biological remains. He is also interested in understanding the impact of endogamy on health and disease of South Asians. Dr. has published widely in such peer reviewed journals as Nature, the American Journal of Human Genetics, Molecular Biology and Evolution, and Current Biology.

Section I: Basic human genetics and genomics
1. Population origin and variation of the South Asian peoples
2. Introduction to genomic and molecular biology
3. Microbial and Pathogenomics with reference to tropical infections
4. Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics including traditional/ indigenous herbal medicines
5. South Asia genomic heterogeneity in transplantation medicine
6. Genome databases and digital genomic healthcare

Section II: Hereditary disorders of the South Asian subcontinent
7. Epidemiology of inherited disorders of India and regional nations
8. Heterogeneity of hereditary diseases in South Asia
9. Metabolic and mitochondrial diseases
10. Haemoglobinopathies and related inherited blood diseases
11. Neurogenetics/ Neuro-psychiatric diseases
12. Inherited cardiovascular diseases
13. Inherited eye diseases in South Asia
14. Inherited immune deficiency disorders
15. Familial and Inherited cancer
16. Rare genetic diseases

Section III: Genomics of Infectious diseases
17. Malaria genomics and applications
18. Mycobacterial diseases genomics and Tuberculosis Including Leprosy
19. Leishmaniasis- the paradigm of tropical infectious disease
20. Viral diseases- HIV; Dengue; Chikangunia; Covid and others
21. Anti-microbial therapy- resistance; response; adverse drug reactions
22. Next generation drugs and vaccines

Section IV: Environmental and Life style diseases
23. Complex genetic and genomic diseases in South Asia
24. Diabetes and related glycemic diseases
25. Coronary artery disease and Hypertension
26. Respiratory diseases- Bronchial asthma and High altitude living
27. Inflammatory/ Auto-immune diseases
28. Gastro-intestinal diseases including Hepato-biliary-pancreatic disorders
29. Mental health/ Neuro-psychiatric diseases
30. Regional and Occupational diseases

Section V: Health genomics of the South Asia
31. The organisation and function of clinical genomics & genetic counselling
32. Genome laboratories and Genome database systems
33. Fertility and Assisted Reproduction
34. Fetal Medicine and Newborn screening
35. Genetic and genomic education & training
36. Public and Population health genomics of the Indian subcontinent
37. Human genomics in Sri Lanka- from clinics to community
38. Clinical and Molecular genetic initiatives in Nepal
39. Medical and population genomics in Pakistan
40. Medical genetics and genetic counselling in Bangladesh
41. Human genomic disease specific database development- the model of the Global Globin database
42. Lay people & Public awareness and outreach
43. Religion and socio-cultural perspectives
44. Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI)
45. Glossary