Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan 29: A two-day Brainstorming-cum-Proposal Finalisation Meeting on Genomic Variations and Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in India was held on 28–29 January 2026 at ICMR–Regional Medical Research Centre, Sri Vijaya Puram. Meeting was attended by leading scientists, clinicians, public health experts and researchers across the country. Dr Siddha Raju, Director of Health Services, Dr Kalyan Pandurang Deputy Director of AYUSH, Dr Rakesh Das, Director of Tribal Welfare, Dr Shahina Mustaqim, Nodal Officer for Blood Disorders, A&N administration also participated. The inauguration of the meeting began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by eminent dignitaries, including Padma Shri Awardee Dr. K. Thangaraj, CSIR Bhatnagar Fellow, CSIR–CCMB, Hyderabad; Dr. Manisha Madkaikar, Director, ICMR–NIIH, Mumbai; Dr. Suman Kanungo, Director, ICMR–RMRC, Dibrugarh; Dr. Dipty Jain, Adjunct Professor, SMRCH, Nagpur; Dr. Jyotish Patel, SCD Expert, Shishudeep Hospital, Gujarat; and Dr. Aparup Das, Director, ICMR–RMRC SVP, along with other distinguished guests.
The meeting was a follow up to develop a Pan-India project on SCD, as a part of the disease elimination by 2047, announced by our honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. Meeting began with a welcome address by Dr. Aparup Das, who emphasized the critical need for multi-disciplinary collaboration to address the high burden of SCD in India and to accelerate genomic research that can inform early diagnosis and targeted interventions. The discussions were anchored with thematic presentations, beginning with ICMR recommendation for SCD research delivered by Dr. Manisha Madkaikar. This was followed by a clinical overview of SCD in Western, Central, North Eastern, Southern, Eastern India, and UT population, by the experts.
A panel of renowned experts in genomics, clinical research and public health, shared key insights, experiences, and perspectives across the sessions. Their contributions shaped discussions on genomic variations, clinical management, public health strategies, and research priorities for SCD, providing a strong foundation for a collaborative, Nation-wide research proposal. The two-day meeting generated extensive inputs and discussions, providing a strong foundation for the development of a comprehensive research plan. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks.