Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences S Jaipal Reddy inaugurated the Centre for Disease Biology at the Dr Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences (DRILS) located in Hyderabad central university (HCU) at Gachibowli.
Through this Centre, the institute aims to give a platform for innovative researchers to encompass epidemiological research to understand the genetic, lifestyle and nutritional pre-dispositions of Indian populations. It is also aiming to evolve novel research approach involving clinicians and academic scientists to understand the disease patho-biology of diabetes. It is also focusing on translational research involving hospitals, clinicians, scientists and industry to evolve therapies and solutions to address diabetes.
Initially the center for Disease Biology is focusing on addressing issues related to diabetes in India. According to the Diabetes atlas published by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), it is estimated that every fifth person with diabetes will be an Indian resulting in huge health and economic burden. To address this problem, this proposed centre will work by integrating efforts of clinicians, scientists, epidemiologists and pharmaceutical companies.
For establishing this institute government of Andhra Pradesh has allocated Rs.10 crores while HCU has given land for construction of the infrastructural facilities in addition to central government’s aid of Rs.13 crores.
“Altogether Rs.60 crores has been invested as corpus fund from various sources to begin this research institute. The main objective is to enhance focused on diseases concerning Indian population. Particularly issues relating to diabetes and in depth research to find out ways and means to contain its spread are studied by eminent scientists. With about 34 PhD students the research center has model incubation center to help innovative research,” said Prof. Javed Iqbal, executive director, DRILS.
Speaking at the inaugural function, “India has great potential in healthcare while at the same time the challenges are also many. We need to have our own research particularly to deal with the wide spread threat of growing diabetes population. We need more such centres in the country where scientists can work towards bringing out scientific evidences to support new policy changes in the government,” said S Jaipal Reddy.
To fund its research programmes the new centre welcomes both government and private funding. A symposium in memory of Dr K Anji Reddy was also organized on the sidelines of this event, where eminent scientists shared their views on diabetes research.
K Satish Reddy, vice-chairman and MD, Dr Reddy’s, Prof. Ramakrishna Ramaswamy, vice-chancellor, University of Hyderabad, B Parthasaradhi Reddy, chairman, Hetero drugs, leading scientists and research students were among the participants at the event.