IIT Madras Launches Diabetes Research Centre with Alumni Funding, U.S. Consul General Attends

The 'Shankar Center of Excellence for Diabetic Research' (SCoEDR) was inaugurated on 20th September 2024, at the Department of Medical Sciences and Technology (DMST), IIT Madras, in the presence of Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, Mr. Chris Hodges, U.S. Consul General, Chennai, Mr. Subramonian Shankar, CEO and Founder of AmZetta Technologies, LLC, Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean-Designate (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras, and other distinguished guests.

Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, noted, “The ‘Shankar Center of Excellence for Diabetic Research’ has come at a very important juncture when we are building the Department of Medical Science and Technology. The objective of the Department is to see how technology can intervene to either prevent an illness or diagnose quickly and treat the illness. With diabetes being one of the most prevalent illnesses in the country, the outcome of this joint activity that will happen in this centre of excellence will be of great societal and national importance.”

U.S. Consul General, Mr. Chris Hodges, praised the partnership between IIT Madras and Emory Global Diabetes Research Center (EGDRC) at Emory University, U.S., stating, “It is stunning to see the amount of intellectual genius every time I come here. On treating diabetes, you are talking about isolating variables in a challenging environment. It is satisfying to see the partnership between two leaders— IIT Madras and Emory Global Diabetes Research Center (EGDRC) at Emory University— come together and even greater to see members of the Indian Diaspora in the U.S. like Mr. Subramonian Shankar lead such initiatives.”

He added, “I would like to see more research partnerships with American universities and see American students and faculty undertake research here at IIT Madras. This would not just be an opportunity to further research but also learn about each other. I can, and my team, connect these students and faculty with the research opportunity here at Chennai. We can also connect them to business and see start-ups come out of IIT Madras. I want to see these businesses connect to American businesses. I want to see academic research drive business opportunities.”

The center will support 15 PhD students over the coming years as 'Shankar Fellows' to conduct advanced research. It will also encourage product development, start-ups, and commercialization efforts aimed at improving diabetes management and care.

Mr. Subramonian Shankar remarked, “I came to know of a Centre at Emory University that was working on diabetes. What stuck me about this centre was that it was a research facility, and in my entire life, I have been a research and development person. This Centre was publishing hundreds of papers a year, but all academic with not much going to the industry and applying the research for the betterment of human health. Being an entrepreneur, I suggested to the Centre that his work can be applied to the industry and offered to work with him on this aspect. The Emory University agreed to my suggestions.”

He continued, “At the same time, being an alumnus, I was visiting IIT Madras a few times. What struck me about IIT Madras was the focus on entrepreneurship and how it was developing start-ups through the Research Park and Incubation Cell. Hence, the best thing I thought was to get IIT Madras and Emory University together. After I learnt about the Department of Medical Sciences and Technology at IIT Madras, along with the entrepreneurship activities of the Institute, the rest, as they say, is history. Last year, it was all on paper. This year, everything is in place. From the way things are developing, a lot more is going to happen in the future.”

Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), thanked Mr. Shankar, stating, “The alumni community of IIT Madras have always stepped up to support the various research initiatives at the Institute. Our Distinguished Alumnus Awardee, Mr Subramaniam Shankar's continued support to the institute and especially in the setting up of the Shankar Centre of Excellence for Diabetes Research is truly commendable, and we are grateful for his support and encouragement.”

The partnership with Emory Global Diabetes Research Center (EGDRC) will enable joint research initiatives, knowledge exchange, and expertise-sharing between the two institutions. EGDRC is known for its global efforts in preventing and treating diabetes through interdisciplinary research and education.

Dr. V. Mohan, Chairperson of Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, also spoke at the event, while Prof. Boby George, Head of DMST, IIT Madras, highlighted the significance of the center’s launch, saying, “This Center marks a major milestone in our commitment to tackling one of the world’s most pressing health issues — diabetes. Through strategic collaborations and groundbreaking research, we are confident that the Shankar Center of Excellence will make a lasting impact on the global fight against this disease.”

Dr. Anubama Rajan, Head of SCoEDR, said, “The generous support from our alumnus has opened the door to a new era of innovation in diabetes research. At this centre, we aim to not only deepen our understanding of diabetes but also bridge the gap between academic research and real-world solutions. Our focus is on developing transformative technologies, fostering entrepreneurial ventures, and building global partnerships to improve diabetes care worldwide.”

Prof. Krishna Kumar, Institute Professor, IIT Madras, added, “The vision of the Department of Medical Sciences and Technology at IIT Madras is to integrate advanced scientific research with clinical practice to create impactful solutions for society. The Shankar Center of Excellence for Diabetic Research is perfectly aligned with this vision, as it brings together academic innovation and practical application to address one of the most critical health challenges of our time—diabetes.”