The Research Operations & Diabetes Complications Department, under the able leadership of
Dr. R. Guha Pradeepa, plays a pivotal role in advancing research and education in diabetes and associated metabolic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Its multifaceted activities contribute significantly to both scientific understanding and community health impact.
The department conducts comprehensive cross-sectional, prospective, and surveillance studies to evaluate the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors for diabetes and its complications across diverse urban and rural populations. These efforts generate crucial data that fuel evidence-based prevention and management strategies for diabetes and other NCDs.
A hallmark of the department’s work is its coordination of multicenter and international projects, which enhances knowledge on the burden of diabetes and its complications among researchers and supports community education efforts. Additionally, the department organizes workshops and seminars on non-communicable diseases—particularly diabetes and its complications—providing invaluable learning opportunities for young researchers and scientists.
- Visiting Professor at the Bagchi School of Public Health, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, India
- Recognized Guide for Ph.D at the University of Madras and the Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
- Member Secretary, Institutional Human Ethical Committee Madras Diabetes Research Foundation
- Member, Institutional Animal Ethical committee, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and Institutional Human Ethical Committee, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha University
- Member of the Board of Studies in ” Food Service Management & Dietetics” at Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women,Coimbatore -2025 -2027
Dr. R. Guha Pradeepa
Ongoing Projects
International And National Training Programs
Clinical Research Training for NCD studies in India
NIH Grant Funded by the Fogarty International Center in Collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), USA (2001–2016)
This initiative trained epidemiologists and community health specialists in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) both within India and internationally. The primary objective of the programme was to strengthen capacity-building efforts in India and to develop effective strategies for the prevention of NCDs in general, with a particular focus on diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
To support national and international planning efforts for NCD prevention, an International Seminar on Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) was organised, along with an intensive training programme. Since its inception in 2003, a total of 3,650 undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and faculty members from medical colleges and institutions across almost all Indian states—and several neighbouring countries—have participated in seminars and other capacity-building workshops conducted at the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) and six other medical colleges.
Of these participants:
883 attended the in-house workshops,
463 took part in the intensive interactive sessions,
244 received training in advanced techniques in genomics, and
37 completed short-term training programmes held in the United States.
Coordinating training for International and National trainees
Training and Capacity-Building Initiatives at MDRF
MDRF provides diabetes-related training to both national and international students, with a particular focus on learners from developing countries where specialised facilities are limited. These efforts aim to strengthen global research capacity in the field of diabetes. As part of this mission, MDRF offers short-term training opportunities for overseas students from diverse academic backgrounds.
During their training period, students are exposed to a wide range of departments at MDRF, including epidemiology, clinical trials, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, genetics, and the tissue culture facility. This multidisciplinary exposure enables participants to gain valuable hands-on experience and insight into diabetes research from both clinical and laboratory perspectives.
Organizing seminars/workshops/symposia
Workshop on “Health Behavioural Epidemiology”
In collaboration with the University of Cambridge under the NIHR Global Health Research Unit and Network for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in South Asia
1st – 3rd June 2023
This three-day workshop, attended by 66 participants in person and 158 participants online, provided an in-depth exploration of Behavioural Epidemiology. The programme focused on health-related behaviours such as physical activity and dietary patterns, and highlighted major public health challenges alongside cutting-edge research in the field.
The module was designed to demonstrate how key public health principles and epidemiological concepts can be applied to real-world issues. By the end of the workshop, participants had gained a deeper understanding of behavioural epidemiology and its relevance to contemporary public health research.
Completed Projects
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