IIT Madras: 1972 batch to fund lab for research on Parkinson's disease

NEW DELHI: The 1972 batch of Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is sponsoring the establishment of ‘Parkinson’s Therapeutics Lab’ in the Institute to boost efforts towards treating Parkinson’s Disease. The batch has also donated Rs 50 lakh towards the scholarship fund of IIT Madras.

As per the IIT Madras release, the creation of this lab will be a major boost to researchers at the Institute Biotechnology Departments’ Laboratory for Computational Neuroscience (CNS Lab) to develop a computational model of a brain region called ‘Basal Ganglia’ (BG) where the loss of cells leads to Parkinson’s Disease.

The Research on Parkinson’s Disease at the CNS Lab includes

• Research in basal ganglia and Parkinson’s disease
• Model-based Clinical Applications for Parkinson’s Disease

1. Simulators for the action of Parkinson’s disease drugs like ‘LDopa’,

2. Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease and

3. Aquantitative diagnostic system for Parkinson’s Disease.

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"The CNS Lab is involved in developing systems-level models of various crucial brain systems. The ultimate goal of the CNS Lab is to create a whole brain model and use it to develop model-based therapeutics for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and other brain disorders. Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement, often including tremors and/or rigidity of joints. Although Parkinson's disease cannot be cured, medications might significantly improve a patient's condition," the official IIT Madras release stated.

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Thanking the 1972 Batch for their contribution to a cause with immense societal benefits, Professor Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras, said: “We acknowledge this contribution with a deep sense of gratitude. The funding will support path-breaking translational research on a debilitating disease.”

Commending the cutting-edge research underway at IIT Madras, 1972 batch alumnus Mr K K Raman, batch coordinator, said: “As many as 146 alumni and spouses have attended the Golden Reunion of the Class of 1972. Going by the dictum ‘Government meets Needs, Alumni meet aspirations of IITM’, the Class Of 1972 are supporting the Parkinson’s Therapeutics Lab at the Institute for futuristic research to contribute to Indian Research Capabilities.”