SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre Introduces Genetic Clinic to Support Community Health and Preventive Care

SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre (SRMMCHRC) inaugurated a Genetic Clinic at SRM Hospital, ‘C’ Block (Room No. CG 41), near the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Outpatient Department on March 27.

The Genetic Clinic has been established to provide a structured clinical framework for genetic evaluation and counselling. Core services include phenotype-based clinical assessment, appropriate genetic test selection, clinical interpretation of diagnostic results, and comprehensive pre- and post-test genetic counselling.

The clinic follows a seamless, integrated care pathway within the hospital. After clinical evaluation, counselling, and obtaining informed consent, patient samples are processed through the DBT Platform for Advanced Life Sciences for chromosome analysis, DNA testing, and gene sequencing. The results are then returned to the clinic for interpretation and patient guidance, eliminating the need for external laboratory visits.

Genetic counselling services will be available from Monday to Saturday, between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Patients from all departments were referred to the clinic based on clinical indications, addressing needs ranging from prenatal screening and childhood developmental disorders to hereditary cancer risk assessment.

The clinic is supported by a multidisciplinary team comprising a lead scientist and trained genetic counsellors, ensuring both scientific accuracy and patient-centred communication.

The clinic operates in coordination with the School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), utilising the advanced diagnostic infrastructure available at the DBT Platform for Advanced Life Sciences. This collaboration ensures the integration of high-end genetic testing capabilities with clinical expertise, while maintaining appropriate clinical oversight within SRMMCHRC.

This initiative is aligned with SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre’s commitment to strengthening preventive and precision healthcare services for the community. By enabling early identification of genetic conditions and informed clinical decision-making, the clinic aims to improve patient outcomes and support families through accessible, evidence-based care.

By bringing evaluation, testing, and interpretation under one roof, the clinic is expected to reduce waiting times, lower costs, and minimise the financial, emotional, and logistical burden on patients. It also reduces reliance on external laboratories, which have traditionally contributed to delays and increased expenses.

The establishment of the Genetic Clinic marks a significant step in enhancing institutional capacity in genetic diagnostics and positions SRMMCHRC as an emerging centre for clinical genetics in Tamil Nadu, delivering accessible, coordinated, and patient-focused care supported by advanced laboratory systems.