25th October 2025 | Chennai, India – In a landmark international collaboration, the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), Chennai, Centre for Brain Research (CBR) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru and the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) have joined forces to advance cutting-edge research exploring the intricate relationship between diabetes and brain health. Separate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were signed between MDRF, CBR & UK DRI.
This collaboration brings together leading experts in the fields of diabetes, neuroscience and dementia to understand how metabolic disorders like diabetes influence cognitive decline and neurological diseases, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The partnership aims to facilitate large-scale studies, data exchange and translational research to improve early detection and prevention strategies.
Dr. V. Mohan, Chairman, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), said:
“This collaboration marks a milestone in our journey to understand how diabetes affects not just the body but also the brain. With our decades of work in diabetes and metabolic health, and by joining hands with eminent neuroscientists and dementia researchers, we hope to uncover mechanisms that will ultimately improve the quality of life for millions worldwide.”
Dr. R. M. Anjana, President, MDRF, added:
“Diabetes is increasingly being recognized as a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. Through this partnership, we will leverage the strength of multi-disciplinary expertise and diverse datasets to uncover early markers of brain aging in people with diabetes. This could pave the way for preventive and therapeutic breakthroughs.”
Prof. Siddharthan Chandran, Director & Chief Executive, UK Dementia Research Institute, stated:
“Understanding how metabolic disorders influence brain function is one of the great scientific challenges of our time. Collaborations such as this with MDRF are crucial in uniting global expertise and resources to accelerate discoveries that can translate into real-world benefits for patients.”
Prof. K. V. S. Hari, Director, Centre for Brain Research (CBR), IISc Bengaluru, commented:
“CBR’s focus on brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases aligns perfectly with this initiative. Working with MDRF and UK DRI will help integrate large-scale clinical, imaging, genomics and proteomics data to identify key pathways linking diabetes and cognitive health. We are grateful to the invaluable support provided by Pratiksha Trust, to this important initiative.
Prof. Henrik Zetterberg, Head, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, Group Leader, UK DRI at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and visiting faculty at CBR, remarked:
“This collaboration represents an exciting frontier for dementia research. By studying metabolic factors and brain biomarkers together, we can gain deeper insights into disease mechanisms and identify novel intervention strategies.”
About MDRF: The Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) is a renowned research institute located in Chennai, India. It is dedicated to conducting scientific research on diabetes and related complications. The foundation was established in 1996 by Dr. V. Mohan, a leading diabetologist in India. MDRF’s primary focus is on understanding the causes, prevention, and management of diabetes, as well as its associated complications. The research conducted at MDRF encompasses various aspects of diabetes, including epidemiology, genetics, clinical management, and public health. MDRF plays a crucial role in advancing knowledge about diabetes, improving patient care, and combating the growing burden of diabetes in India and beyond.
About UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI): The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is a globally leading multidisciplinary research institute principally funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC). The UK DRI is dedicated to changing the outlook for people living with or at risk of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington’s, Lewy body dementia, motor neuron disease, Parkinson’s, vascular dementia, and more. Its community of over 1000 researchers across 7 leading Universities are accelerating the discovery, development and delivery of interventions that will help diagnose, treat, and ultimately prevent neurodegeneration. The institute is funded by the MRC, Alzheimer’s Society, Alzheimer’s Research UK, LifeArc, British Heart Foundation, NIHR and Parkinson’s UK. www.ukdri.ac.uk
About the Centre for Brain Research (CBR): CBR was established in 2014 as a not-for-profit society by the Indian Institute of Science, with the generous support of the Pratiksha Trust founded by Dr Kris Gopalakrishnan (co-founder of Infosys) and Mrs. Sudha Gopalakrishnan. Hosted by IISc, the Centre is dedicated to interdisciplinary research in basic and clinical neuroscience to strengthen our understanding of brain aging and aging-related brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, through advanced genetic, proteomic, biochemical, neuroimaging, and neurocognitive investigations. https://cbr-iisc.ac.in/
