Dr. K M Cherian's Frontier Lifeline Hospital in Chennai and The Institute for Atherosclerosis Research, Moscow, Russia, signed a collaborative research agreement to study the 'Genetic similarities causing heart diseases in Russians and Indians'.

Sergey L Kotov, Consul General of the Russian Federation for South India, Prof Alexander Orekhov, Director, Institute for Atherosclerosis Research, Moscow, Dr Sanjay Cherian, Vice President of Frontier Lifeline Hospital, presided the press conference.

Heart disease is the most common cause of death across the globe. Recent data shows that there is an increasing incidence of heart attacks both in India and Russia. In order to study the genetic similarities between Indians and Russians, Frontier Lifeline Hospitals and Institute of Atherosclerosis Research have initiated a scientific collaboration.

Speaking on the collaboration, Sergey L Kotov, Consul General of the Russian Federation for South India, said, "This collaboration is a momentous occasion whereby two leading institutes from Russia and India are joining hands to study one of the biggest medical problems that both countries are facing today. The result of this research may benefit both Russians and Indians by identifying potential linkages between genetics and heart disease."

"Under this partnership, Frontier Lifeline Hospital and The Institute of Atherosclerosis Research will jointly develop research projects, clinical studies, and strategies in the area of genetic similarities, collectively aimed at improving the quality of health and also to speed up the development of potential new therapies for patients with heart diseases," added Prof. Alexander Orekhov, Director, Institute for Atherosclerosis Research, Moscow.

"Approximately 10% of heart diseases are due to genetic abnormalities. The present research is aimed at analyzing any genetic abnormality that may predispose to developing heart attacks by studying gene mutations in atherosclerosis. India and Russia have had several path-breaking collaborations in the past in the field of space and military technology. This formal MoU between India and Russia will be a grand step forward in the field of medical science and technology, since it will help us understand the genetic aspects of this complex disease and develop new treatment modalities to prevent heart attacks," expressed Dr Sanjay Cherian, Vice President of Frontier Lifeline Hospital.