India-US joins hands for Diabetes research

India and US have joins hands in collaboration to initiate a health research relationship between the two countries to generate a better understanding of the molecular and biological mechanisms underlying diabetes, to characterize the genetic, social and environmental determinants, and to identify innovative approaches for improving prevention and treatment of diabetes.

The decision was taken between Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Ms. Kathleen Sebelius, US Secretary, Health and Human Services during the bilateral meeting between India and the US.

Under the agreement, both the countries has agreed to work to promote and develop cooperation in the field of basic, clinical, and translational research in the areas of diabetes mellitus, on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit. Joint efforts will also focus on developing cost-effective tools and approaches to translate research results into policies and actions to improve the public health.

The agreement between India and the US is significantly beneficial in view of the rising burden of Non Communicable Diseases in both countries. This is the eighth agreement between the two countries in the field of health and medicine. Diabetes is a debilitating disease that affects tens of millions of people in the U.S. and India, and it is amongst the leading causes of death worldwide.

(With inputs from PIB)