Contents
-
news
-
Health
India sets up first diabetes biobank; What will it do?
India has launched its first diabetes biobank in Chennai to revolutionize research and treatment. A game-changing step towards personalized care, early diagnosis and global collaboration. The first-of-its-kind storage facility is expected to store biological samples from across the country for scientists to study the genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors behind the rise in the disease for better prevention and treatment strategies. More targeted treatment for affected people.
The biobank will store biological samples to help scientists study genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors
In a historic move against one of India’s most pressing health concerns, India has launched its first Diabetes Biobank in ChennaiThis initiative is a collaboration between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), is set to increase understanding, research and treatment of diabetes in the country, which has the second highest number of people with high blood sugar levels in the world.
According to experts, this biobank comes at a crucial time when the country is grappling with rising diabetes rates – especially among the youth – and it promises to open new avenues for advanced scientific studies and personalized health care solutions.
According to statistics, there are more than 10 crore diabetes cases and 13.6 crore prediabetes cases, some of the highest numbers in the world. Despite the widespread impact of the debilitating disease, experts say there is a lack of a large-scale repository of biological samples that could help study diabetes.
What will the biobank do?
According to ICMR, the new biobank will store biological samples from across the country, helping scientists study the genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that cause high blood sugar levels.
This is expected to lead to better treatments, better prevention strategies, and more targeted treatments for those affected.
An important milestone in diabetes research
Currently, the biobank houses samples collected through two landmark ICMR-funded studies, one of which ran from 2008 to 2020 and collected data from over 1.2 lakh participants across all states and union territories. This comprehensive study highlights the high prevalence of diabetes and metabolic disorders in India.
The second initiative, the Registry of People with Diabetes in India with the Young Age at Onset study, launched in 2006, focuses on the diagnosis of diabetes in young individuals. This registry revealed concerning trends, with type 1 diabetes being diagnosed at an average age of 12 years and type 2 diabetes being diagnosed at an average age of 21 years.
According to doctors, many cases of type 2 diabetes are diagnosed late, with almost half of the patients already facing complications that require hospitalization and life-long medication.
Why are biobanks important?
Various biobanks in India are specifically dedicated to Advancing biomedical and health research In life-threatening and fatal diseases like cancer and liver disease. Despite this, diabetes-specific biobanks are rare, highlighting the urgent need given India’s high glucose levels.
Biobanks play an important role in biomedical research by offering high-quality biological materials that promote advances in personalized medicine. They ensure efficient sample collection, storage and reproducibility, enabling long-term and large-scale studies.
However, according to experts, they also face challenges such as high operating costs, ethical concerns over consent and privacy, and logistical hurdles – which remain significant hurdles.
What is the reason for high number of diabetes in India?
According to the International Diabetes Federation, about 134 million Indians will have diabetes by 2045; As a result, these people are more likely to experience heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, organ damage, and coma.
Currently, many environmental and lifestyle changes are taking place in the country due to continuous industrialization, migration towards urban areas, increase in per capita expenditure and eating out culture, which experts say is leading to increase in consumption of food items. Has happened. Calories/high fat and high sugar.
Additionally, a sedentary lifestyle leads to obesity and increased visceral fat.
Additionally, there is growing evidence that Indians have higher levels of insulin resistance and are more likely to develop diabetes.
Get the latest news live on Times Now with breaking news and top headlines from around the world.
