Pilot Projects under CHART

Air Pollution exposure & Skin Microbiome

CHART and KCDH researchers have collaborated to examine the effect of ambient air pollution exposure (PM2.5) on the skin microbiome.

The aim is to examine the microbiome composition at a taxonomic scale with functional aspects of the microbiome on skin under high and low air pollution conditions, captured by seasonal changes (immediately following rainy and winter seasons).  Currently the study is piloted out in healthy volunteers from urban Sonipat region from UDAY cohort site to test out the methodological feasibility logistics.

We will evaluate changes in skin microbiome composition and diversity, measured by indices such as the Shannon diversity index and microbiome “uniqueness,” and correlation of microbiome shifts with changes in air pollution metrics.

We believe that the effect of pollution will have a deleterious effect on skin properties via the change of microbiome communities, both in terms of taxonomically as well as functionally; furthermore, we expect that vital “keystone species” can be identified from the network analysis which would give us more insights into individual bacterial species in the community.

All these insights would provide insights into the feasibility of topical products that may protect the microbiome community from effects of pollution and thereby maintain a healthy skin.

COPD Genomics

CHART in collaboration with KCDH is examining the genetic underpinnings of chronic lung disorder, “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD)” among Indian population that have a huge unaddressed burden with very early age of onset, even among non-smokers.

The aim of the present collaboration is to identify pathogenic or likely pathogenic rare protein coding variant in early-onset non-smoking COPD patients. The study findings will enable identification of rare protein-coding variants to aid genomics-driven drug target discovery for disease management.

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 report estimated around 37.8 million COPD cases in India, making it the country’s second leading cause of morbidity and mortality (GBD India, 2018). COPD is also a major risk factor for many cardiovascular and metabolic complications. Apart from smoking and air pollution exposure, the genome-wide scans have established high heritability of lung function measures and COPD. Individuals carrying rare protein-coding variants may develop disease early and without significant lifestyle and environmental risk-factors like smoking or air pollution exposure.

We are performing whole-exome sequencing of early-onset (<45 years) non- smoking COPD patients at CSIR-IGIB for Delhi COPD patients at present for preliminary findings.