The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched an ambitious nationwide health initiative called Phenome India – CSIR Health Cohort Knowledge base (PI-CHeCK), marking a significant step toward personalized medicine in India. The five-year study aims to develop clinically useful personalized risk prediction scores for various communicable and non-communicable diseases affecting the Indian population.
Comprehensive Health Assessment Program
The multi-institutional project covers all 40 CSIR laboratories spread across the country, with over 10,000 CSIR employees, retirees, and their spouses identified as study participants. Phase II health camps have been successfully completed at multiple CSIR facilities, including the CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre and CSIR Madras Complex in Chennai from July 13-16, 2025, and at CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru from August 6-10, 2025.
The health camps involve extensive data collection including clinical questionnaires, lifestyle and dietary patterns, body composition analysis, imaging assessments, blood biochemistry, and molecular assay data. Participants undergo comprehensive testing including complete blood count panels, liver function tests, kidney function tests, and detailed biochemical marker analysis for omics investigations encompassing genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, cytokines profile, and telomere length measurement.
Addressing India's Growing Health Challenges
With rising life expectancy, India is witnessing an increase in cardio-metabolic disorders such as diabetes, obesity, and fatty liver disease, which significantly impact quality of life and healthy aging. The PI-CHeCK study specifically targets these conditions by collecting diverse health-related data to enable customized healthcare interventions.
Dr. Prakash M Halami, principal investigator at CSIR-CFTRI, noted that due to consumption of highly processed foods, there has been a substantial increase in lifestyle disorders. The Phase II testing included specific health and nutritional questionnaires regarding food frequency, conducted by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation.
Advanced Data Analysis and Storage
All samples collected from across CSIR laboratories are stored at the CSIR Biobank at CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) in Delhi under strict anonymity protocols. The project, coordinated by Dr. Shantanu Sengupta, chief scientist at CSIR-IGIB, will analyze the collected data through artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches to develop precision healthcare solutions.
The comprehensive assessment also includes advanced imaging and scanning procedures such as spirometry, electrocardiography, body composition analysis, liver scans, and oscillometry, capturing the health diversity of India's population.
Participation and Future Phases
The Chennai health camp saw participation from around 230 individuals, while the Mysuru facility recorded nearly 300 participants. Dr. Bhaskar Narayan, director (additional charge) of CSIR-CFTRI, inaugurated the Mysuru camp, emphasizing the project's significance for advancing personalized medicine research in India.
Healthy aging has emerged as an important focus area, with increased participation from senior citizens and retirees in Phase II. Dr. Halami indicated that higher enrollment is expected in Phase III of the program, scheduled for mid-2026, as awareness of the study's benefits continues to grow among the CSIR community.
The landmark cohort study represents a major advancement toward personalized and precision medicine, serving as a national resource for identifying genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle risk factors specific to the Indian population.
