Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) and Deakin University, Australia recently organized a day long workshop on diabetes to explore opportunities of research and highlight the critical areas where urgent progress is required. Aptly titled “Diabetes Research – A Fertile Field with Numerous Opportunities” the workshop was also a celebration of 25 years of Deakin University’s engagement in India. Ms. Susan Grace, Australian Consul-General, Chennai; Professor Jane den Hollader AO, Vice-Chancellor & President, Deakin University; Professor David Austin, Associate Dean-International, Deakin University, Professor V. Mohan, President, MDRF and Professor S.P. Thyagarajan, Professor of Eminence & Dean (Research), SRM University, Chennai inaugurated the session.

Commemorating 25 years of engagement with Deakin University, Australia and India (1994 to 2019), Deakin University, Australia is hosting a range of events in collaboration with The Australian Trade and Investment Commission and its India partners to explore future engagements in areas of strategic importance to India and Australia. As part of this initiative, Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialties Centre’s research wing Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) and Deakin University, Australia organized a day long workshop to further research initiatives in diabetic treatment and care. Participating at the event were eminent faculty from Deakin University, Australia including Professor Jane den Hollander AO, Vice-Chancellor & President, Deakin University, Professor Julie Owens, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), Professor Anna Peeters, Director, Institute for Health Transformation, Professor.Jon Watson, Dean, School of Medicine, ProfessorJo Williams, Associate Head of School (Research), Dr. Kathryn Aston-Mourney, Senior Lecturer in Human Biology, School of Medicine, Dr. Virginia Hagger, Lecturer in Nursing, School of Nursing and Professor Ken Walder, Chair in Metabolic Diseases.

Commenting on the workshop, Professor V.Mohan, President, MDRF and Honorary Professor, Deakin University said, “We are happy to say that MDRF is collaborating with the Deakin University for over 5 years. Ph.Dprogrammes and Diabetes Nurse Educator’s course are being conducted at MDRF in collaboration with Deakin University. So far, three students have completed their PhD and three are currently pursuing their doctoral degree and 30 nurses have completed the 4-month diabetes nurse educator’s course at MDRF. Both these programmes are successful collaborative initiatives in India. MDRF is partnering with Deakin in organizing this workshop to brainstorm on the research opportunities, challenges and solutions with renowned medical professionals, scientists, physicians, young researchers, and students working in the field of diabetes to tackle the burden of diabetes in India.”

Dr. R.M. Anjana, Vice President, MDRF states: “We are happy to celebrate over 5 years of engagement with Deakin University. We’ve collaborated with the university to offer medical students access to international Ph.D programmes and a specialized Diabetes Nurse Educator’s course. The workshop we’ve organized today is aimed at pushing the frontier of diabetic research through knowledge sharing and research cooperation among experts in this field. We hope to see partnerships and intensify research in critical areas of diabetic treatment”

Professor Jane Den Hollander AO, Vice Chancellor & President, Deakin University said: “Deakin and MDRF partnership has been working hard on providing key interventions in Diabetes care. Diabetes is a critical health and development issue in India, with the second largest and most diverse population with diabetes in the country.  There are significant barriers in delivering diabetes care to this large number of people. Given this, the opportunities for diabetes research are potentially huge in India. The workshop today on diabetes provides a platform for expert, researches and medical professionals to put forward research ideas in preventing and combating diabetes in India. This conclave enables knowledge sharing and provides an excellent networking opportunity with a diverse group of medical and industry professionals.”