Diabetes management in older adults

Expression of interest: University partner and supervisor for industry-funded PhD scholarship opportunity with Diabetes Australia and Myopharm (industry partner).

The Diabetes Australia Sheila Woodcock industry PhD Scholarship program brings together an industry partner, a university and Australia’s Diabetes peak body, Diabetes Australia, to co-develop industry-focused PhD projects. PhD students will gain unique practical and translational research skills beyond the academic setting to focus on impact-driven research. The program is focused on fast-tracking research outcomes into real-world solutions that will reduce the incidence and impact of diabetes on people, health systems, and society sooner.

Diabetes Australia, in partnership with MyoPharm are seeking expressions of interest from universities and university researchers to supervise a PhD student.

Project Topic: Nutrition approaches for preventing post prandial falls in older adults with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Older adults with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes living in aged care experience high rates of disability, functional decline, and falls, reflecting complex interactions between ageing, nutrition, glycaemic control, and blood pressure regulation. Postprandial hypotension (PPH), a meal-related drop in blood pressure that is more common in people living with diabetes, is a major and under-recognised contributor to falls, syncope, and adverse health outcomes in this population and may account for up to 50% of falls in aged care settings. Nutritional strategies that slow and shift the digestive curve offer a promising, non-pharmacological approach to mitigating postprandial risk while supporting quality of life.

This PhD scholarship will support research trialling OMDI-D, a scientifically formulated pre-meal intervention to improve postprandial responses and reduce falls risk in older adults with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Potential PhD project areas include, but are not limited to the following:

• Clinical evaluation of OMNI-D in aged care residents, assessing effects on postprandial hypotension, falls incidence, and functional independence.
• Physiological studies examining how OMNI-D influences gastric emptying, glycaemic variability, and post-meal blood pressure regulation in older adults.
• Sarcopenia and muscle health studies assessing the effects of OMNI-D on muscle mass, strength, and physical function in older adults with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
• Feasibility research exploring acceptability, adherence, and integration of OMNI-D into routine aged care nutrition and diabetes management.
• Comparative dietary intervention studies assessing OMNI-D alongside standard meal-based strategies to reduce postprandial glycaemic and blood pressure fluctuations.
• Translational research using trial findings to inform evidence-based guidelines for managing postprandial risk and preventing disability in older adults with diabetes.

What will be provided:

• Funding to support a PhD stipend of $50,000 (AUD) per annum and a $10,000 Training and development package per annum for up to 3 years
• Additional funding to support any clinical research requirements as part of the PhD studies
• Supervision support from Diabetes Australia and Myopharm as part of the PhD student supervisory panel for up to 3 years.
• Supervise the student to undertake an industry engagement component and access to industry facilities and infrastructure where required to complete the project.

What the University will be required to provide:

• Allocation of a university researcher to supervise the PhD student for to 3 years
• Advertise, recruit and enrol the PhD student
• Provide access to required facilities and infrastructure
• Provide a domestic fee offset for the PhD student
• Monitor and assess the student in accordance with the university’s Higher Degree by Research policies
• Fund university supervisor travel, accommodation and ancillary expenses if required for the project
• Pay the student their scholarship from the commencement of their project.

How to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI):

Prepare and submit an EOI with the following details:

1. Proposed Project Title
2. University Name, ABN and Address
3. Graduate Research School Name where research will be conducted
4. Proposed University Supervisor/s and contract details
5. Statement of confirmation of approval from the Head of School or Authorising Delegate
6. 500 word summary of proposed project, including:
   • scope and direction of the project and proposed experiment
   • main activities and outputs of the student and their expected timeline
   • any additional resources (infrastructure) required to deliver the activities and outputs listed above.

Submit your EOI in MS Word format via email to: [email protected], with a subject title “Nutrition approaches for preventing post prandial falls in older adults with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes”.

Applications close 31 March, 2026.

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Glucose management in pregnancy

Applications closed 31 January, 2026.

We’re thrilled to share that Diabetes Australia and MyoPharm, in collaboration with Western Sydney University, are co-funding a PhD scholarship. This exciting opportunity invites domestic candidates to play a pivotal role in advancing research on innovative, non-pharmacological approaches to glucose management in diabetes and pregnancy.

For more information about this opportunity, including eligibility criteria and the application process, download the fact sheet: Non-pharmacological approaches to glucose management in diabetes – PhD scholarship