DIVERSE EPIGENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY PARTNERSHIP (DEEP)

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Picture Courtesy: www.deep-epigenetics.org

Context: Diverse Epigenetic Epidemiology Partnership (DEEP) collaborates with global research groups to study Non-Communicable Diseases genetics in diverse populations worldwide.

About the DEEP Project

• The project involves collaboration with researchers from various disciplines and regions to investigate the effects of genomic and environmental diversity on disease risk.
• It aims to explore the interplay of genetics and the environment in relation to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and their associated traits.
  • NCDs like diabetes, cardiovascular, and mental disorders are rising globally, showing varied onset and symptoms across populations, including India and South Asia.
• It will involve approximately 13,000 participants from diverse genetic and environmental contexts, including individuals from India. The project has received a grant of ₹25 crore from the Medical Research Council, UK.
• Much of the population health research has historically been based on data collected from people of white European origins, leading to the underrepresentation of many global communities in health studies.
  • Genetic databases for genomic research need to include diverse populations to gain a better understanding of the factors contributing to differences in gene regulation and disease risk.
• The research reveals that micronutrients like vitamin B12 and folates impact disease risk through epigenetic regulation, specifically DNA methylation, shaping the body's response to environmental cues and influencing health outcomes.
• The research aims to uncover global and region-specific disease mechanisms, assess cross-population medicine effectiveness, and enable targeted interventions, striving to diminish global health disparities and inequities.

Conclusion

• Diverse Epigenetic Epidemiology Partnership (DEEP) will contribute to a better understanding of the genetic and environmental factors that underlie the prevalence and variability of NCDs in different populations, and it has the potential to improve global health outcomes.