Research

Research is the key to making advances in the prevention and management of diabetes and the search for a cure. We support and participate in diabetes research in a number of important ways, including:

• Funding diabetes research
• Leading research initiatives
• Collaborating with key partners in research projects
• Supporting Assisting with recruitment into trials
• Providing our expertise and resources
• Participating on steering or advisory groups Funding diabetes research

The Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes

DA-Vic has partnered with Deakin University to establish the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes.  The Centre was launched officially with a research symposium followed by a cocktail reception at the Melbourne Museum on Wednesday 18th August 2010.  The theme of the research symposium is ‘Evidence into action: optimizing outcomes in diabetes’. The launch was attended by Australia’s leading academics, clinicians, policy makers and funders.

Read more about the Centre.

Research requests

Diabetes Australia – Vic receives many requests from researchers to promote their studies. Please email your request to research@diabetesvic.org.au including the following details:

• Name of researcher (and supervisor if applicable) and full contact details
• Name of Research Institution
• Aim of study
• Number and description of study participants
• When participants are required
• What will be required of participants
• Details of risks and benefits to participants
• Whether ethics approval has been granted (and by whom)

Grants and Funding

DA–Vic offer some grants and funding opportunities to researchers and our Health Professional Member base.

Diabetes Australia Research Trust

The Diabetes Australia Research Trust (DART) was established in 1987 to support diabetes research in Australia. Peer reviewed grants are awarded to fund research into the prevention, management and cure of diabetes and to enable and foster young and upcoming diabetes researchers.

DART relies on the generosity and support of member organisations, corporates and individual donors. Every extra dollar ensures more vital research is undertaken.

Our growing fundraising success has enabled us to contribute $1million during 2009/10 to the Diabetes Australia Research Trust (DART) to assist research programs across Australia.

You can support DART by way of tax deductible donations, estates or sponsorships. For information about how to donate to diabetes research go to donations.

2010 Diabetes Australia Research Trust Grants

140 applications were submitted by researchers in Victoria. The successful applicants were:

Viertel Grant:

• Sean Mc Gee, Deakin University. HDAC inhibition as an exercise mimetic and treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes

Type 2 Millennium Grant:

• Dr Sofianos Andrikopoulos University of Melbourne Department of Medicine. Unravelling the mechanisms by which insulin hypersecretion is detrimental to B-Cell function and survival in type 2 diabetes
• Lea Delbridge, University of Melbourne. Cardio myocyte autophagy: Is too much of a good thing bad for the diabetic heart?
• Stuart Mannering, St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research. Towards insulin-specific peptide therapy to prevent type 1 diabetes
• Matthew Watt, Monash University. Liver secretory factors link fatty liver to inflammation and insulin resistance
  Suzanne Rogers, University of Melbourne. Nutrient-stimulated glucose transport regulates whole body glucose homeostasis
• David Nikolic-Paterson, Monash University. A novel approach for the early detection of diabetic kidney disease

Special thanks to Philanthropic Services at the ANZ Trustees Limited for their contribution to the Viertel Grant and to Sanofi Aventis for their contribution.

More information about past and current DART grant recipients.

The Gwen Scott Grant is offered to any of our Health Professional members planning to pursue any diabetes-related professional development in 2009. Read more about it in the Health Professionals section.