Research Area Genetics
Obesity and diabetes now constitute a major public health problem even in developing countries like India. There are ample evidence that type 1 and type 2 diabetes are, in part, genetically determined. However, the magnitude of the genetic contribution to type 1 and type 2 diabetes differs dramatically. Furthermore, there is evidence that the genes that may contribute to risk for type 1 diabetes may differ from those that contribute to risk for type 2 diabetes. It has been identthe genefied that the risk for diabetes complications may be defined by yet another set of genes than those that modify risk for diabetes alone. Although substantial progress has been made in defining the genetic risk for specific subtypes of diabetes (e.g., maturity-onset diabetes of the young), the majority of genetic risk of diabetes (for type 1 and type 2) remain unresolved.
N-DOC focuses on conducting quality research to draw new findings and concrete knowledge basis for the genetic basis of obesity, diabetes and its complications. Ultimately, identification of genes that contribute to risk (or protection) of diabetes and its complications will allow identification of patients who have diabetes and are at risk and targeted treatment/interventional strategies.