By Bl Chennai Bureau

Copyright thehindubusinessline

Sun Life Global Solutions (SLGS), the Global Capability Centre (GCC) and microcosm of the global insurance and asset management leader Sun Life, in a significant step towards combating the surge of diabetes in India, has announced a research collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras).

This joint initiative will support pioneering research aimed at the early diagnosis and improved clinical management of type 2 diabetes. The study focuses on Pancreastatin as a novel biomarker and explores 10–12 genetic markers that could predict diabetes risk years in advance, even in children, a statement from the company said.

The International Diabetes Federation’s Diabetes Atlas (2025) reports that across the globe, 11.1 per cent — or 1 in 9 — of the adult population (20-79 years) is living with diabetes, with over 4 in 10 are unaware that they have the condition.

The World Health Organization further paints a worrisome image of its spread in India. It reports that there are estimated 77 million people above the age of 18 years are suffering from diabetes (type 2) and nearly 25 million are prediabetics. More than 50 per cent of people are unaware of their diabetic status which leads to health complications if not detected and treated early.

IIT Madras will spearhead the research through its advanced biomedical research facilities, with a focus on translating the scientific findings into accessible, real-world healthcare applications.

This research will investigate the use of elevated Pancreastatin as a novel biomarker for identifying pre-diabetes — a widespread health condition likely to impact nearly 15 per cent of India’s population. The study is expected to establish strong proof of principle, positioning Pancreastatin as a powerful early-warning tool and potentially changing the standard approach to diabetes diagnosis and intervention, a statement said.

“We believe that fostering health is foundational to flourishing lives…The [joint] research holds the promise to drive improved health outcomes at scale and change the future of diabetes care across the globe by identifying at-risk individuals early on. This could potentially alter the standard approach to diabetes diagnosis and intervention,” said Tarun Sareen, Managing Director, Sun Life Global Solutions.

The research will be led by Dr Nitish R Mahapatra, FNA, FNASc, FAHA Professor, Department of Biotechnology and BJM School of Biosciences, IIT Madras.

Published on September 17, 2025