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Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), Chennai signs MOU with Centre for
Brain Research (CBR), Bengaluru, and UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI), UK,
for groundbreaking research on Diabetes and Brain Health
25 th 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.”
