MOU for groundbreaking research on Diabetes and Brain Health

Chennai, October 25, 2025: 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.”