ICMR Initiates Nationwide Multi-Centre Study on Autoimmune Diseases – The Indian Practitioner

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved a nationwide research initiative to investigate the genetic factors contributing to autoimmune diseases. The four-year multi-centre study will examine how shared hereditary markers influence immune dysfunction within affected families and why some individuals develop severe autoimmune conditions while others remain healthy. Dr. Ranjan Gupta from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and Dr. Dipyaman Ganguly from Ashoka University are leading the research initiative. The study aims to identify genetic and molecular mechanisms responsible for autoimmune diseases and improve understanding of variations in disease susceptibility.
The research will focus on multiplex families, in which multiple members develop different autoimmune conditions. Researchers plan to recruit 200 families across India for detailed molecular and genetic profiling. Each participating family must have at least one member diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and at least two unaffected relatives who can serve as biological controls. By comparing genetic variations between affected and unaffected family members, researchers aim to identify key immunopathogenic mechanisms that contribute to immune dysfunction and tissue damage. This family-based approach will also help scientists understand why certain individuals carrying genetic risk factors develop autoimmune diseases while others do not.
The study brings together six major medical institutions across India to collect clinical data and patient biospecimens, ensuring representation from diverse geographical and ethnic backgrounds. Ashoka University will serve as the coordinating academic centre and undertake high-throughput multi-omics sequencing. Meanwhile, AIIMS Delhi will lead patient recruitment and clinical phenotyping in the northern region.
Other participating institutions include:
Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow
Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad
Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata
AIIMS Bibinagar
St. John’s Hospital, Bengaluru
Through this collaborative network, researchers aim to build a comprehensive understanding of autoimmune disease genetics across different Indian populations.
Autoimmune diseases develop when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s healthy tissues. However, the presence of genetic risk factors does not necessarily result in clinical disease. Environmental influences and changes in cytokine signalling pathways can also affect disease development and severity. To investigate these mechanisms, researchers will undertake detailed genomic and transcriptomic profiling. The findings could help identify important immunological pathways, uncover potential therapeutic targets and support the development of more personalised treatment approaches for Indian patients. Additionally, the research could improve early risk assessment and advance precision medicine in rheumatology.
As part of the initiative, clinicians at AIIMS Delhi are encouraging eligible patients with lupus in the Delhi-NCR region to contact the institution’s rheumatology department. As reported by ocacademy.in, by combining genetic research, clinical expertise and multi-institutional collaboration, the ICMR-funded study aims to strengthen India’s understanding of autoimmune diseases. Ultimately, its findings could support earlier disease identification, improved risk assessment and more targeted treatment strategies.
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