Wednesday, December 18

New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in collaboration with the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), has launched India’s first diabetes biobank in Chennai. This facility will act as a repository for population-based biological samples to facilitate advanced scientific research with ICMR approval.

The biobank, located at the MDRF, is designed to collect, process, store, and distribute biospecimens to support studies on the causes and variations of diabetes in India. Dr. V. Mohan, Chairman of MDRF and Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, highlighted its significance for understanding diabetes and related disorders.

The repository houses samples from two major ICMR-funded studies:

  1. ICMR-INDIAB Study: Conducted between 2008 and 2020, this study surveyed over 1.2 lakh individuals across all Indian states and Union territories.
  2. Registry of People with Diabetes in India with Early Onset: Initiated in 2006, this ongoing study focuses on young-onset diabetes.

The biobank includes samples of Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes for future research.

Role of the Diabetes Biobank

The biobank aims to:

  • Identify biomarkers for early diagnosis.
  • Develop personalized treatment strategies.
  • Support longitudinal studies to track disease progression.
  • Enable better management and prevention of diabetes and its complications.

Diabetes in India: Alarming Statistics

Findings from the ICMR-INDIAB study reveal:

  • Over 10.1 crore individuals have diabetes, with 13.6 crore diagnosed with prediabetes.
  • Hypertension, general and abdominal obesity, and hypercholesterolemia affect millions, indicating a growing burden of metabolic non-communicable diseases.
  • Urbanization and rural-to-urban migration are linked to increased cardiometabolic risks.

The study also highlights low awareness about diabetes, with only 43.2% of the population recognizing the condition. It calls for enhanced awareness and education programs alongside promoting physical activity, as less than 10% of Indians engage in recreational exercise.

Global Context and Future Potential

Biobanks play a crucial role in biomedical research by storing and managing biospecimens. The article in the Indian Journal of Medical Research compares the initiative to the UK Biobank, a globally recognized biomedical database supported by the NHS. The UK Biobank combines phenotypic, genomic, and imaging data from participants, offering insights through longitudinal studies.

The Indian diabetes biobank is expected to foster collaborative research, advance understanding of diabetes, and contribute to global efforts against the epidemic. By involving private agencies and adopting innovative technologies, this biobank aims to establish a sustainable and impactful model for disease-specific research in India.

This initiative marks a significant step forward in addressing the diabetes epidemic and improving healthcare outcomes for millions across the country.

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