GENETIC TESTING CAN HELP PREVENT A VARIETY OF GENETIC ILLNESSES

Intention is to dismantle the social stigma associated with genetic testing and encourage its timely adoption.

more effective Dr Vinay K Nandicoori, Director of CSIR-CCMB, highlighted the importance of open discussions among Indian youth, stating, "Young people of India have to start discussing these more openly."

Hyderabad witnessed a significant step towards promoting genetic disease awareness as the CSIRCentre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and the NCSM-Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum ( VITM), Bangalore, jointly launched a mobile science exhibition called "Gene-Health Connect " The inauguration coincided with World Thalassemia Day and received the honorable presence of Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, the Chief Guest and the esteemed Governor of Telangana and Lt Governor of Puducherry

The Gene-Health Connect exhibition, housed within a specially designed bus, will travel to various science, medical, and pharmacy colleges, as well as high schools in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over the next seven months

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Director General, Dr. N Kalaiselvi, inaugurated the exhibition online, showcasing the commitment of the scientific community to spread awareness

One of the crucial partners for hosting the exhibition across all districts of Telangana is the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society Driven by a noble purpose, the exhibition aims to educate young individuals about genetic diseases, including how they can be managed and prevented. According to estimates, approximately 7-9 crore Indians suffer from genetic diseases, many of which are propagated through in-breeding in small communities, as suggested by previous studies conducted at CCMB

Dr. Somdatta Karak, the Science Communication and Public Outreach Officer at CSIR-CCMB, emphasized the objective of the exhibition, stating, "We have designed the exhibition for young people to understand how genes function and to look at genetic diseases more objectively." The intention is to dismantle the social stigma associated with genetic testing and encourage its timely adoption. Genetic testing can play a pivotal role in preventing various genetic diseases, and ongoing research endeavors aim to make these tests even

VITM, Bangalore, renowned for its efforts in bridging the gap between research laboratories and the public, especially through interactive models and exhibits, played a key role in developing the hands-on exhibits for the Gene-Health Connect exhibition. Ms Sadhana Attavar, Director of VITM, expressed her excitement, stating, "The mobile science exhibition on GeneHealth Connect brings people the knowledge of genes and genetic disorders through hands-on exhibits that are easily understandable."

The collaboration between CSIRJigyasa, CSIR's flagship student-centered science outreach initiative, and the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) facilitated this exhibition. Dr. Geetha Vani Rayasam, Head of CSIR-Human Resource Development Group and CSIR-Jigyasa initiative, emphasized the significance of such initiatives, stating, "This is a great opportunity for research institutes such as CCMB to take the research that is going on in labs to the public, especially the youth."

The launch of the Gene-Health Connect exhibition marks an important milestone in raising awareness about genetic diseases and fostering a more open dialogue on genetic testing and prevention. By reaching out to educational institutions, the exhibition strives to educate and empower young individuals, ensuring a healthier future for generations to come

- NSH