A large-scale genetic study conducted on 173,000 Pakistanis has revealed important findings related to diabetes, heart diseases and obesity. The research was carried out under the supervision of Professor Danish Saleheen, Dr. Lubna Kamani, Dr. Asif Rasheed, Professor Shehzad Ali Khan and other scientists.
The study analyzed genetic samples from 173,303 individuals across 23 cities. Researchers reported the discovery of 3.1 million new genetic variations while 2 million variations were recorded for the first time in global databases.
According to the findings, 30.6% of participants confirmed that their parents were first cousins. Professor Shehzad Ali Khan stated that Pakistan has the potential to become an important global center for research on hereditary diseases and drug development. He added that genetic data could help in early disease diagnosis, prevention and personalized treatment.
Researchers also identified genes that may help reduce cholesterol and blood fat levels while protective genetic factors against fat accumulation in the liver have opened new possibilities for drug development. The study may also contribute to safer and more effective treatments for diseases such as Parkinson’s.
Dr. Lubna Kamani noted that it may become possible to identify at-risk individuals even before symptoms appear enabling treatment based on each patient’s genetic makeup and promoting the development of precision medicine.
Researchers emphasized that this study could play a significant role not only in Pakistan but also globally in understanding disease causes and developing new medicines.
