$3million grant for Diabetes Research to an Indian American doctor, Nikhil Dhurandhar

 Nikhil Dhurandhar, who is president of the Obesity Society has based his research on adenovirus 36, which causes obesity but also releases a protein that reduces the blood sugar level

An Indian-American doctor, Dr Nikhil Dhurandhar has been awarded a $3 million grant to continue his research for treatment of diabetes. Dhurandhar research is a paradoxical situation in itself; it is based on an adenovirus 36 which causes obesity in humans, yet release a protein that reduces the glucose level in the blood.

Dhurandhar first made this interesting observation years ago in rodents while researching how the virus causes obesity. A protein was isolated from the virus that is responsible for reducing blood sugar, and eventually tested on diabetic cells and animals. The result was conclusive, with the protein leading to a marked improvement in diabetes.

The next step was to focus to develop a drug that could be tested on humans and Dhurandhar currently holds a number of patents for his work on adenovirus 36.

Dhurandhar, who is president of the Obesity Society, has been studying viral obesity for years, which he started when he was a physician in India focusing on patients with obesity.