MDRF and Deakin University Celebrate Ten Successful Years of Partnership in Diabetes Research
· Under this partnership, India’s first Diabetes Nurse Educators course was launched along with a slew of grants and scholarships for research
National , 2nd March, 2023: Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), the R&D wing of the leading Diabetes Specialities Hospital Chain – Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre todaycelebrated the tenth anniversary of its landmark partnership with Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. Joining hands in the year 2013, the collaboration was announced with an objective to further strengthen research led treatment for Diabetes Management and Care. In its ten years journey, Deakin University and MDRF have jointly launched several path-breaking initiatives like PhD programs in various aspects of diabetes and the country’s first Diabetes Nurse Educators Certificate course to enhance the knowledge of nurses on the basic sciences pertaining to diabetes and understanding the underpinning principles in evidence-based management of diabetes. Through this course, 75 students have been successfully trained.
In an effort to further nurture the research ecosystem in Diabetes care, Deakin University had also launched a 100% scholarship for PhD students through its In-Country PhD Program (ICPP). 7 PhD students had benefited from this PhD program till date and 15 research papers have been published so far, with several others in the pipeline.
Commenting on the occasion, Chairman and Chief Diabetologist, Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialties Centre and MDRF, Dr. V. Mohansaid “It has been a great pleasure and privilege to commemorate the decade long collaboration between Deakin University, Australia and MDRF. This has led to not only several research projects having been taken up but also has provided a platform for students in India to pursue and obtain their PhD from the prestigious International University by doing the research and skill development courses in India itself.”
Dr Anjana, President, MDRF said “Another offshoot of the collaboration is the Diabetes Nurse Educators Course which was started for the first time in India. As we celebrate the decade of milestones between MDRF and Deakin University, we look forward to more path-breaking research in the coming years.”
Prof. David Austin, Associate Dean (International), Faculty of Health, Deakin University added “We at Deakin are delighted to celebrate this great milestone with MDRF and look forward to increasing our research and academic collaborations in the coming years”.