Diabetes Australia has signed a research agreement with Australian biopharmaceutical company Myopharm Limited to explore practical ways to improve diabetes management and prevent complications.

Diabetes Australia and Myopharm will each contribute $240,000 to co-fund two industry PhD scholarships through the Sheila Woodcock Diabetes Australia Industry PhD program, that will focus on improving diabetes care in vulnerable populations including older adults and pregnant women.

The three-year partnership will include funding research and clinical trials into nutritional management solutions for gestational diabetes, and broader diabetes complications.

Diabetes Australia Group CEO Justine Cain said diabetes is one of the most urgent and complex health challenges of our time.

“Diabetes Australia is investing in partnerships that will accelerate research and innovation that delivers real-world impact, is shaped by lived experience, and addresses the most pressing needs of our community.

“Our goal is for people with diabetes to live longer, healthier and more productive lives enabled by the latest scientific discoveries,” Ms Cain said.

Diabetes Australia Director of Research Professor Grant Brinkworth said the agreement with Myopharm demonstrates a new approach and direction in diabetes research.

“In line with the new Diabetes Australia Research Strategy 2025-2030, the objective of the partnership is to develop real-world solutions to the problems experienced by people living with diabetes,” Professor Brinkworth said.

“We want to harness the knowledge and expertise of Diabetes Australia and Myopharm, our academic partners and scientists to look for breakthroughs that make a real difference in people’s lives. Importantly, these research projects will focus on older adults and women in pregnancy, which aligns with Diabetes Australia’s commitment to vulnerable populations.

“Embedding researchers within industry settings will not only foster cross-sector collaboration but it will also develop the researcher’s skill in entrepreneurship, translation and commercialisation that are necessary to accelerate research outcomes into real-world solutions,” he said.

Karinza Phoenix Chief Executive Office from Myopharm said “diabetes is the number one challenge facing Australia’s health sector and unless major investment is made in type 2 diabetes prevention the number of Australians living with this complex condition could reach 3.6 million by 2050.”

Diabetes Australia will administer the PhD scholarships in collaboration with academic institutions and Myopharm.

About Diabetes Australia

Diabetes Australia is the national organisation supporting all people living with or at risk of diabetes. We put people first. We work in collaboration with member organisations, consumers, health professionals, state-based organisations, researchers and the community.

For more information visit: www.diabetesaustralia.com.au