# South Asians missing from 86% of global genetic health data 2026-08-21T02:25:37+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet More than 86% of participants in genome-wide association studies since 2005 have been of European ancestry, while South Asians account for less than 1%, according to the NHGRI-EBI GWAS Catalogue. This data gap means AI tools and polygenic risk scores built on European datasets are less accurate for South Asians, who face higher rates of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and asthma. Researchers warn that single-cell atlases used to train AI models also overwhelmingly represent European populations. Yale public health dean Bhramar Mukherjee said more than 20% of the world is being neglected, denying them the human right to attain maximal possible health. The GenomeIndia Project aims to capture the country's genetic diversity, but much South Asian data remains absent from global biobanks like the UK Biobank. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Polygenic risk scores and AI diagnostics trained on European genomes risk misclassifying millions of South Asians who face earlier and higher rates of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and asthma. India alone expects 125 million diabetes patients by 2045, yet less than 1% of genome-wide study participants are South Asian. The GenomeIndia Project, capturing the country's vast genetic diversity, remains a modest counterweight to biobanks like the UK Biobank. Without systematic inclusion, clinical thresholds and drug targets derived from European data will continue to miss the mark for India's population. Watch for whether Indian funding agencies mandate South Asian data inclusion in future AI diagnostic tools approved by the CDSCO. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Leads with the gap and its consequences, quotes Indian and global experts without government mention. Neutral-report framing. This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Bhramar Mukherjee, GenomeIndia Project, South Asia, type 2 diabetes, UK Biobank Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/south-asians-missing-from-86-of-global-genetic-health-data/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/south-asians-missing-from-86-of-global-genetic-health-data/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/