The Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) had its humble beginning in a single room in a rented building at Royapettah with just one research officer in 1996. In September 1997, when the new building of Dr.Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre was inaugurated. MDRF was allotted 2 rooms and later as the staff and eqiupments grew, 4 rooms of the hospital were given for the Research Foundation use. In Sept.2001, a separate four-storied building for MDRF was inaugurated by Dr. N.K. Ganguly, Director General of the Indian council of Medical Research, New Delhi. Research on diabetes is a continuous activity at MDRF.

Diabetology Unit

This department is headed by Prof. V. Mohan, M.D., FRCP(UK), FRCP(Glasg), Ph.D., D.Sc., FNASc Six students are working for their Ph.D degree under the guidance of Prof. V. Mohan. Earlier studies from this department has identified the prevalence of diabetes and related complications in South Indians. Current areas of research include extensive studies on insulin resistance using clamp studies, islet cell transplantation and cloning of islet cells.

Diabetic Retinopathy Unit

One of the common health complications of diabetes is diabetic eye-disease, clinically referred to as "diabetic retinopathy". The diabetic retinopathy unit is headed by Dr. Rema Mohan, M.B.B.S., D.O., Ph.D., FABMS. Dr.Rema has initiated a series of studies to obtain accurate estimation of prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in Indians. The priorities of research includes determining the causative factors for retinopathy, to identify the role of growth factors, adhesion molecules and other second messengers in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its progression to diabetic retinopathy. The main areas of interest are association of preclinical atherosclerotic markers with diabetic retinopathy, elucidation of hyperglycaemia-induced retinal neovascularisation using pericyte - endothelial cell model and genetics of retinopathy.

Epidemiology Unit

For the last 8 years, this department have been involved in designing and developing new ways to obtain accurate prevalence data on diabetes and its various complications. The epidemiology team of MDRF has been involved in developing new ways to obtain accurate prevalence data on diabetes and its various complications. The various studies done in this department includes the Chennai Urban Population Study (CUPS), Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES), Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological (PURE) Study, WHO ICMR sentinel surveillance, Industrial cohort study and others. Recently this department has completed a large population based study, the Chennai Urban Population Study (CUPS), a screening study for diabetes (DM) and Coronary Heart Diseases (CHD) which had more than 90% response rate. Based on this study results first time population based data on diabetes related complications and the burden of diabetes have been published from India.

Clinical Drug Trials

The clinical trials department in MDRF in concert with Dr. Mohans' M.V.Diabetes Specialities Center (Dr. Mohans'MVDSC) has been involved in national and international drug trials involving good clinical practices (GCP). There are several ongoing trials on antidiabetic therapy and lipid lowering drugs. MDRF has also successfully carried out various phase II and phase III trials on newer molecules anto-diabetic agents and several more are on going, utilizing good clinical practices (GCP).

Cell and Molecular Signalling

Contemporary diabetes research lists studying cell signalling as one of the priorities to identify the factors responsible for the disease and to develop new methods for treatment and prevention. Dr. Balasubramanyam heads this department. Altered cell signaling is central to disturbances in insulin secretion and action in diabetes leading to development of various diabetic complications. Research programme at MDRF will provide new insights into these signaling pathways by adopting an inter-disciplinary proteomic approach involving powerful technologies now available in modern biochemistry, physiology, cell and molecular biology and structural biology. Fundamental questions such as why Asian Indians are more prone to insulin resistance, why they develop diabetes earlier and why they are more vulnerable to micro and macrovascular complications, will be addressed at the cell, molecular and genetic level studies.The main area of Interest are proteomics of diabetes with special reference to signaling network and pathways, elucidation of molecular actions of herbal drugs in insulin secretion and action, elucidation of emerging biomarkers of oxidative stress with special reference to DNA oxidation and subcellular redox signaling, biochemistry of diabetes complications and identification of molecular drug targets in studies pertaining to human skeletal muscle and adipose tissue.

Department of Genetics

This department headed by Dr. Radha Venkatesan is involved in collaborative research work on genetic studies on Type 1 diabetes with the All India Institue of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi and also involved in a project sponsored by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi on studies on type 2 diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. Genetic studies are also in progress in collaboration with the Steno Diabetes Centre at Copenhagen to identify genes responsible for Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Youth (MODY).

Department of Advanced Research Biochemistry

The science of biochemistry is fundamental to the practice of clinical medicine. The areas of research includes identification of risk factors associated with diabetic micro and macro vascular complications. Currently, a study sponsored by Indian Council of Medical Researc, New Delhi on novel cardiovascular risk factors and preclinical atheroscerotic markers in subjects with glucose intolerance is in progress.

Library

An exclusive library with access to MEDLINE,with CD-ROM and other facilities. The library has books and journals exclusively on Diabetes. Photocopying facilities at subsidised rates are available for students.

Departments in New Building

The various departments at MDRF depending on the specialised areas of research, are:

Department of Diabetology

Department of Ophthalmology

Department of Advanced Research Biochemistry

Department of Cell and Molecular Biology

Department of Genetics

Department of Nutrition and Dietitics

Department of Clinical Trials

Department of Islet Cell Transplantation

Computing and Bioinformatics