In addition to
DART, there are several prominent research organisations in Australia. Together, through the generous support of donations, supporters and the government, they provide funding for research into diabetes.
Research & Developments
National Research Organisations
Details of some reports produced by Australian diabetes research organisations can be found in the Reports section of this website.
Survey - Health Promotion and Pre-diabetes
Carrying excess weight around your abdomen is a known risk factor of type II diabetes. If your waist measurement is greater than 94cm (for men) or 80cm (for women) and you are over the age of 18, you are eligible to participate in this research. The researchers are interested in investigating if health promoting information can improve mood and increase healthy behaviours in people at risk of type II diabetes.
Participation is completely voluntary and you may withdraw your consent to participate and discontinue at any time, until data is processed, without prejudice.
If you agree to participate, you will be asked to sign a consent form and to complete a series of questionnaires. The questionnaires relate to mood, coping and health behaviours. These are to be returned to the researchers using the prepaid envelope that you will be provided with. When we receive your response, you will then be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive some additional reading material. The other group will not receive any information. After 8 weeks has passed, you will be asked to repeat the questionnaires and to return them to the researchers. Completion of the questionnaires should take approximately 30 minutes.
At least 60 participants are needed for this research. The research will be used for the completion of a Masters of Psychology research thesis. Journal articles may also be written from the results found. Any written material produced from the results will not include information that identifies individual participants. All data collected will be confidential. Only the researcher, Miss Lynne Gibbs, and her supervisor Dr Mirella Di Benedetto, will have access to the data.
If you would like a copy of the findings, please indicate so on the consent form. After the study is completed the results will be posted on the University of Ballarat, School of Behavioural and Social Sciences and Humanities research website: www.ballarat.edu.au/ard/bssh/research
This project has received ethics approval from the University of Ballarat Human Research Ethics Committee.
If you would like to participate or require further information please email Miss Lynne Gibbs (contact details below). Please leave your postal details if you would like to participate.
Researcher Contact Details
Lynne Gibbs B. Psych, Post Grad Dip Psych
Masters of Psychology student
School of Behavioural and Social Sciences and Humanities
University of Ballarat
Ballarat, 3353
Email: lynnegibbs@students.ballarat.edu.au
Type 1 Diabetes Prevention Study
Have you ever wondered what might have been if your diabetes could have been prevented and would you give the rest of your family that chance?
Exciting research findings during the past few years have provided new evidence that it may be possible to prevent or delay the onset of Type 1 Diabetes - and Australia is leading the world in the race to prove it. Initial research showed that intranasal delivery of an insulin solution can switch the immune system out of attack mode, even after it has started producing the antibodies.
This vaccination approach was tested and shown to be safe in a previous clinical trial called the Intranasal Insulin Trial I (INIT I), in children and young adults at risk for type 1 diabetes. A much larger study, the Type 1 Diabetes Prevention Study (INIT II), has since been initiated in 2006 by Professor Len Harrison and Professor Peter Colman from the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Walter Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne.
The study requires 264 individuals with two telltale antibodies to participate in order to prove the researcher’s hypothesis that this approach can prevent type 1 diabetes. As only around 1 in 50 (2%) of people tested will have the antibodies the researchers need to test samples from over 16,500 people. So far over 6000 people have registered for the study, 3430 have had a blood sample taken and 72 have been found to have the antibodies. Of these, 32 have been entered into the trial and 5 have completed their 12 months treatment.
Anyone who has type 1 diabetes in his or her family can potentially participate in this important and exciting study. ALL RELATIVES (aged between 4 and 30) are urged to have the blood test. The first step is to have the blood test which will identify whether there is a risk. If the blood test is positive, you will be one of the people who can contribute towards this groundbreaking research. People who continue into the study will self –administer the insulin solution or placebo using a nasal spray every morning for one week (7 consecutive days) and then once a week for 12 months. They will then be followed up for a further four years.
Further information can be obtained by calling 1300 138 712 or visiting our website: www.stopdiabetes.com.au
The Type 1 Diabetes Prevention Study is funded by the Diabetes Vaccine Development Centre (www.dvdc.org.au)
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CSIRO Diet Research
The CSIRO is developing innovative technologies to tailor diet and lifestyle information so families can work together towards a healthy lifestyle and would like to invite you to join their study. Should you choose to participate in this study, the information provided by you and your family will be used to guide this research and will help the development of an interactive family website about healthy lifestyle and well being resources.
CSIRO is seeking Australian families of four (two adults and two children aged 12 – 17) to participate in a study. The study will run for two weeks in mid-February 2009 and it is easy to participate. All you will have to do is to think about your usual family lifestyle and ways of improving it. You will also need a computer at home with an internet connection and an email account. They estimate about 30 minutes per day will be needed. More details will be provided if you decide to participate. If you would like to participate please contact the communication officer for this study: Iain Coombe E-mail: fep@csiro.au
Kellion Diabetes Foundation
Diabetes Research Foundation of Western Australia
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Baker IDI
The untimely death of John Kellion in September 1972 at the age of 38 due to complications of diabetes led to the establishment of the Kellion Diabetes Foundation by his father Claude. For many years this foundation was the only private source of funding in Australia for diabetes research and continues to be a major contributor to the Diabetes Australia Research Trust (DART).
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The Diabetes Research Foundation of Western Australia (DRFWA) was established in 1976 to research the causes and complications of diabetes and to ultimately find a cure. The DRFWA is a not-for-profit organisation which comprises of an elected Board who believe a cure for diabetes can be found.
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Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is a world leading non-profit, non-governmental contributor to diabetes research. JDRF’s mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of medical research.
Australian research supported by JDRF is focused on three goal areas:
- restoring normal blood glucose levels
- preventing and reversing complications
- preventing type 1 diabetes.
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The Diabetes Research Centre, based in Melbourne, is currently involved in several clinical trials and studies. The centre is often looking for people with diabetes or their family members to become involved in these trials.
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Baker IDI represents a historic moment in medical research in Australia and the merger provides a model for scientific research around the world. The new organisation combines the formidable strength of Baker research into cardiovascular disease and diabetic complications with the outstanding diabetes research and patient care of IDI
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