DC | Barkha Kumari | 01st Apr 2013
"Checking out horoscopes and kundlis are passé, you want to know your future? Just spit.
This is Genomepatri(TM), a comprehensive test that offers a composite picture of your genetic make-up and highlights the diseases you might be predisposed to - by testing just 10 ml of your spittle.
Anu Acharya - a graduate from IIT Kharagpur who also holds a degree in MSc in Physics and MIS, University of Illinois - was the first "guinea pig" of this futuristic test. She says, "I had to try it myself before throwing it open to public."
Anu founded Genomepatri with her husband Subhash Lingareddy two years ago as part of their company, Mapmygenome; they also own the multinational biotechnology product development company Ocimum Biosolutions, headquartered in Hitech city.
Says the 40-plus entrepreneur, "My family has a history of diabetes. So I wasn't surprised when the tests showed up the same. I was predisposed to it by 41 per cent, much higher than the Indian average of 20 per cent. I am also susceptible to three to four other diseases."
For the past one month, Anu has been waking early, running obsessively and is trying to be stress-free. "That is what this test essentially aims to do. Yes, many people are anxious of trying it as they don't know what the future has in store for them. But if you take it positively, you can modify your lifestyle and reduce the extent of the disease," says Anu.
While the official launch is in April, the collection kit, was introduced in the market this January and has had 250 takers, beginning with Delhi and Mumbai before returning to the city. Its next stop is Kolkata. "For something that costs Rs 25,000, it's quite a good response," shares Anu.
Explaining why the test is costly, Anu says, "We use a chip that has 2.2 million snps (mutations) stored on it. We have a database of genetic traits of millions of Indians. We need to process 96 samples at a time. In order to simplify the logistics, we ship the packet and receive it via courier services. This leads to this cost. It will come down as the demand increases." She adds, "It's a lifelong investment as we will create accounts for our clients on our website and update them of diseases that we identify in the future."
Genomepatri's services do not end here. Anu also provides genetic counsellors, a panel of doctors one can visit for diagnosis and treatment.
She has partnered with Mydocadvisor, which has a network of 10,000 doctors in 7-8 Indian cities.
While Subhash has moved back to Ocimum Biosolutions, Anu has taken over the venture. "The first ones to try Genomepatri were intellectually curious people who wanted to try out the new technology. The second bracket was fitness-freaks. The third comprised people with chronic diseases. But I wish to target the youth."
While they are not the first to venture into personal genomics, they are certainly the first in India to identify more than 25 diseases. "A Chennai-based firm rolled out something similar. But they only identify diabetes and cardio-vascular diseases. We identify 25 and will add more in future." "
Anu and Subhash are both alumni of IIT KGP. More details about Anuradha may be seen at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anuradha_Acharya
