Centre for Translational Research and Training on Endocrine pancreas and Type 2 Diabetes in India

Indians have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

The prevalence is projected to increase from 74 million in 2021 to 125 million in 2045 and healthcare expenditures are expected to increase.

Epidemiological and clinical studies indicate different pathophysiologic mechanisms for T2DM in Indians compared to others.

Distinctive features include a high prevalence of insulin-deficient phenotype, younger age at onset, and lower body mass index.

These findings strongly suggest that differences in insulin secretion/pancreatic islet function/ mass play a major role in the pathogenesis in Indians.

However, very little is known about the islet structure, function, and mass in Indians, with studies being conducted almost entirely in European and African- American populations. The proposed Centre will address these critical knowledge gaps.

The key goals of the Centre, the first in India with a focus on the pancreatic islets, are to: i) establish and expand research infrastructure (pancreatic biobank, and phenotyped clinical/epidemiological cohorts); ii) define functional/cellular/molecular characteristics of islets in the insulin-deficient phenotype using cutting-edge, multiplexed imaging and multi-omics approaches; iii) train a cadre of investigators through international collaboration leading to new clinician scientists and basic scientists; and iv) develop new paradigms to prevent/ treat T2DM in Indians.