India's 1st Diabetes Biobank Unveiled at Chennai

The biobank is hosted at the MDRF and will operate under the guidance and approval of the ICMR.

In a significant development for diabetes research, 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 state-of-the-art facility is designed to collect, process, store, and distribute biospecimens, enabling cutting-edge scientific research into diabetes and related conditions.

The biobank is hosted at the MDRF and will operate under the guidance and approval of the ICMR.

According to Dr V Mohan, Chairman of MDRF and Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, the biobank aims to facilitate research into the causes and variations of diabetes prevalent in India.

Currently, it houses blood samples collected as part of two major ICMR-funded studies. The first, the ICMR-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) study, is a comprehensive epidemiological survey conducted between 2008 and 2020 across all Indian states and Union Territories.

The second, an ongoing registry of young-onset diabetes, initiated in 2006, examines various forms of diabetes in younger populations, including Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes.

Dr Mohan emphasized that the biobank’s resources could support longitudinal studies tracking the progression of diabetes and its complications over time.

It will also assist in identifying novel biomarkers for early diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies.

The Role of Biobanks in Modern Healthcare

Biobanks play a crucial role in advancing biomedical research by providing high-quality biological samples for scientific exploration.

An article published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research highlighted the importance of the diabetes biobank in fostering innovative research.

It explained how the biobank could support cost-effective, long-term studies and facilitate collaborations between the public and private sectors to translate research findings into clinical practice.

The article drew comparisons with the globally renowned UK Biobank, which maintains a vast biomedical database supported by the National Health Service (NHS).

The UK Biobank’s comprehensive collection includes genetic, lifestyle, and health information from 500,000 participants, setting a benchmark for biobank operations worldwide.

Findings from the ICMR-INDIAB Study

The ICMR-INDIAB study, one of India’s largest epidemiological research projects on diabetes, surveyed over 1.2 lakh individuals, including urban and rural populations, across 31 states and Union Territories.

It revealed that over 10 Cr Indians suffer from diabetes, while an additional 13.6 Cr are prediabetic.

The study also reported high prevalence rates of hypertension, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and high LDL cholesterol among the population.

The findings underscored regional disparities, with diabetes prevalence stabilizing in socio-economically advanced states but increasing in less-developed regions.

Behavioral risk factors, such as low engagement in recreational physical activity (less than 10% of the population), were also highlighted.

The study called for large-scale public awareness campaigns and education programs to address these challenges.

Insights from the Registry of Young-Onset Diabetes

The registry of young-onset diabetes provides critical insights into the disease among younger populations in India.

The study enrolled over 5,500 participants from 205 centers nationwide, revealing that Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are the most common forms.

The average age of diagnosis for Type 1 diabetes is 12.9 years, while for Type 2 diabetes, it is 21.7 years.

The data showed that nearly half of Type 1 cases were registered within six months of onset.

However, a significant delay was observed in Type 2 cases, with nearly 47% being registered after three years of onset. By this time, more than half of these patients had experienced at least one hospitalization.

A Step Forward in Combating the Diabetes Epidemic

The launch of the diabetes biobank is a landmark achievement in India’s fight against the growing diabetes epidemic.

It aligns with global efforts to use advanced research tools and resources to improve understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic diseases.

With India accounting for over 10 Cr diabetes patients, the biobank is expected to play a pivotal role in addressing the country’s healthcare challenges.

By enabling research into the complexities of diabetes, it will contribute to developing innovative solutions for prevention, management, and personalized care. 

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