Madras Diabetes Research Foundation

What Madras Diabetes Research Foundation does

Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) is an independent, non-profit diabetes research foundation established in 1996 in Chennai, India by Dr. V. Mohan and the late Dr. Rema Mohan. It operates two research facilities — a clinical research center at Gopalapuram and the Kallam Anji Reddy Centre for basic sciences at Siruseri — and organizes its work across 20+ departments spanning epidemiology, molecular genetics, clinical trials, vascular biology, cell and molecular biology, foods and nutrition research, preventive and digital health, physical activity, biostatistics, ocular research, childhood and youth-onset diabetes, diabetes food technology, healthy ageing, precision diabetes, and data science. The foundation serves a mixed constituency including patients with type 1, type 2, gestational, and monogenic diabetes; pediatricians and neonatologists referring patients for genetic testing; national and international academic collaborators; and government health agencies such as ICMR, NIH, NIHR, and WHO.

MDRF's core scientific outputs are large-scale epidemiological studies (notably the ICMR-INDIAB study covering 113,043 adults across all 31 Indian states and Union territories), a monogenic diabetes registry with 2,319 patients, and 273 peer-reviewed publications. Its technical portfolio includes validated India-specific assessment instruments (MDRF-IDRS, MPAQ, ADOSS, SAS, PHQ-12), web-based clinical decision support calculators for distinguishing type 1 from type 2 diabetes and for HNF1A/HNF4A-MODY probability, the DIANA phenotypic subgrouping tool, digital health applications (myArogya, My Sugar Journey), the THANDAV HIIT-dance intervention, and a Trusted Research Environment for governed research data management. The institution is EMA-certified GCP-compliant, has completed 175 global Phase II-IV clinical trials, and operates the only laboratory in India equipped for functional assessment of monogenic diabetes variants.

MDRF's business model is grant-funded rather than commercial: revenue derives from research funding and grants from national agencies (ICMR, DBT, DST), international agencies (NIH, NIHR, World Diabetes Foundation, WHO), and university collaborations, supplemented by clinical and genetic testing services and clinical trial execution. Distribution is via direct institutional partnerships and collaborative research arrangements rather than commercial sales channels. Go-to-market is community- and event-driven, anchored by annual knowledge dissemination events such as Dr. Mohan's International Diabetes Update and community screening programs (PACE, ORANGE, D-CLIP).

Name

Madras Diabetes Research Foundation

Legal name

Madras Diabetes Research Foundation

Website

https://mdrf.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Madras Diabetes Research Foundation is an independent, non-profit diabetes research foundation established in 1996 in Chennai, India. It conducts epidemiological, genetic, clinical trial, and digital health research, serving patients, government agencies, and academic collaborators through India-specific assessment tools and large-scale national studies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diabetes Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Diabetes (General) (HLAKADAA), Type 1 Diabetes Care (HLAKADAB), Public Health Financing, Budgeting & Grants Management (HLAJAMAC)

Keywords

• Diabetes research
• Clinical research services
• Genetic testing services
• Medical screening programs
• Epidemiological studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Chennai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Funding and Grants: MDRF operates primarily as a research foundation funded by national and international funding agencies including ICMR, DBT, DST, NIH, NIHR, World Diabetes Foundation, and various university collaborations
2. Clinical Services and Testing: Provides clinical testing services including genetic testing for monogenic diabetes, biochemical analyses, and diagnostic assessments

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Madras Diabetes Research Foundation is a non-profit research foundation conducting clinical, epidemiological, and genetic research on diabetes and related metabolic disorders. The foundation develops proprietary research tools (MDRF-IDRS, MPAQ, ADOSS), provides genetic testing services, conducts community screening programs, and has developed a patented diabetes-friendly sweetener formula. It also produces mobile applications for diabetes risk assessment.

Product overview

Madras Diabetes Research Foundation operates as a research institution offering a portfolio of clinical assessment tools, digital health applications, and research platforms. Core products include the MDRF-IDRS and calculator tools (Type 1 Diabetes Calculator, MODY Calculator) for diabetes risk assessment and subtyping; MPAQ and ADOSS for research-based physical activity and stress assessment; and digital interventions including the myArogya app, My Sugar Journey mHealth platform, and THANDAV dance-based NCD prevention program. The institution also maintains research data platforms including the ICMR-INDIAB study database and monogenic diabetes registry. These tools span screening, risk prediction, clinical decision support, and lifestyle intervention categories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MPAQ: MDRF Physical Activity Questionnaire - standardized questionnaire to assess physical activity patterns among adolescents, adults, and women with gestational diabetes
• MDRF-IDRS
• ADOSS
• THANDAV
• Dr. Mohan's Brown Rice Flakes

Products and services

• MDRF-IDRS (Indian Diabetes Risk Score) A proprietary diabetes risk assessment tool developed by MDRF for identifying individuals at risk of developing diabetes, used by clinicians and researchers.
• MPAQ (Mohan Physical Activity Questionnaire) A physical activity assessment questionnaire developed by MDRF for research and clinical use in evaluating physical activity levels in study populations.
• ADOSS (MDRF Alert for Diabetes Onset and Severity Score) A proprietary tool developed by MDRF for assessing diabetes onset and severity in patients.
• Genetic Testing Services Genetic testing services provided by MDRF for diabetes research and clinical assessment, targeting researchers and at-risk individuals.
• Mobile Apps for Diabetes Risk Assessment Mobile applications developed by MDRF for individuals to assess their diabetes risk and learn about prevention.
• MDRF Patented Diabetes-Friendly Sweetener Formula A patented diabetes-friendly sweetener formula developed by MDRF, designed for diabetic and pre-diabetic consumers as a sugar substitute.
• Community Diabetes Screening Programs Community-level diabetes screening programs conducted by MDRF to identify at-risk individuals and raise awareness in the general population.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,091 adults screened in rural Tamil Nadu through TREND telemedicine project
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Imperial College London, UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024NIHR Global Health Research Unit for Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes in South Asia. South Asia Biobank study across India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka with 200+ surveillance sites.
• University of Dundee, UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Global Diabetes Outcomes Research partnership
• University of Warwick, UKminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019International Doctoral Training Scholarship (iDTS) scheme and research on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
• National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Global Diabetes Outcomes Research with University of Dundee; NIHR Global Health Research Unit for Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes in South Asia with Imperial College London. Multiple multi-country research initiatives.
• Western Sydney University, AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017TOBOGM trial collaboration on treatment of booking gestational diabetes mellitus
• National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017LIVING study collaboration on lifestyle intervention in gestational diabetes across Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka
• Deakin University, AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013In Country Ph.D. Program (ICPP) collaboration for doctoral training in diabetes research
• Emory University, Atlanta, USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007MDRF-Emory Global Diabetes Research Centre established as part of collaboration in diabetes research. Joint research programs in diabetes prevention and management including D-CLIP trial.
• University of Alabama at Birmingham, USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001NIH Fogarty International Center funded Clinical Research Training for NCD studies in India (2001-2016). Trained 3,650+ epidemiologists and community health specialists.
• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-phase ICMR-INDIAB national study across 31 states/Union territories. Multiple task force projects and collaborative research initiatives including genetic testing for monogenic diabetes (2,099 children tested).
• World Diabetes Foundation, DenmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimordial Prevention Model for Reduction of Modifiable Risk Factors for Diabetes (2025-2028) targeting adolescents and adults across 5 states of India. MDRF Rural Tele-Ophthalmology Project.
• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGEOHealth HEALS collaboration on cooking fuel impact on glycemic parameters. Indoor air pollutant research with Harvard and CCDC.
• The George Institute for Global Health IndiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance project on multimorbidity clusters in diabetes patients (2023-2026)
• International Diabetes Federation (IDF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRIDGES program collaboration for D-CLIP trial. IDF Global 'ACTIVE' Initiative led by Dr. R.M. Anjana.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Joslin Diabetes Center: Harvard-affiliated U.S. diabetes research and clinical care center with deep expertise in type 1 and type 2 diabetes, monogenic diabetes, and global diabetes epidemiology. Directly comparable to MDRF as a specialty diabetes research institution combining clinical care, genetics, and population studies.
• Diabetes Research Institute (DRI): University of Miami Miller School of Medicine-affiliated institute dedicated to diabetes research with emphasis on type 1 cure-focused science and clinical translation. Comparable to MDRF as a focused diabetes research organization with clinical-trial infrastructure and strong international standing.
• Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen: Danish national diabetes research and treatment center focused on type 1 and type 2 diabetes, prevention, and translational research. Directly comparable to MDRF as a single-country diabetes research center of excellence with strong government partnership and clinical-trial activity.
• Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes: University of Colorado-affiliated center specializing in type 1 diabetes research and care, including genetic and clinical research in children and young adults. Comparable to MDRF's Childhood and Youth Onset Diabetes department and monogenic diabetes work.
• Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute: Australian medical research institute dedicated to cardiovascular and metabolic disease (including diabetes) research, prevention, and education. Comparable to MDRF as a focused research institute running population studies, clinical trials, and prevention programs in Asia-Pacific.

Others

• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): India's apex government body for medical research, which funds MDRF's INDIAB study and has designated MDRF as a Collaborating Centre of Excellence. Comparable as the leading India public-sector health research funder — a customer/funder rather than a direct competitor — that shapes MDRF's research agenda.

Regional players

• Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC): India-based non-profit research center focused on chronic disease epidemiology, including cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Comparable to MDRF as an Indian non-profit chronic disease research organization with international collaborations (Harvard, etc.), operating in the same ecosystem but with a broader disease mandate.
• Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI): India-wide public health research and training institution working across NCDs, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Comparable to MDRF as a large Indian non-profit research entity with international partnerships and population-health focus, though with a broader mandate across multiple NCDs.

Broad incumbents

• NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases): U.S. NIH institute that funds and conducts major diabetes research, including epidemiology, genetics, and clinical trials. Comparable to MDRF as a public-sector diabetes research powerhouse, though it operates at national scale rather than as a single-site foundation.
• International Diabetes Federation (IDF): Global umbrella organization for national diabetes associations that funds research, sets policy, and convenes stakeholders. Comparable to MDRF as the global convener in diabetes — MDRF scientists hold IDF Working Group chairs — though IDF operates at a federation/advocacy layer rather than as a single research institution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/dmdsc?lang=en
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC6BJrjTVCIMniKYU175QClw
• Facebookfacebook.com/drmohansdiabetesinstitutions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drmohans

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Madras Diabetes Research Foundation