Studies looking at oral insulin, new ways of delaying type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and preventing diabetes-related complications such as blindness are among the 35 Diabetes Australia Research Program grants being funded this year.

Diabetes Australia Group CEO Justine Cain said she was delighted to announce funding for these potentially game-changing projects that could improve the lives of the nearly 1.5 million Australians who live with diabetes.

“These research projects create hope for people living with diabetes and provide vital funding to help ensure Australia’s best and brightest researchers want to work in diabetes research,” Ms Cain said.

“Diabetes is a complex condition impacting almost every organ in the body which makes it a very diverse area of research and the projects we are funding represent that diversity and complexity.

“For instance, a Diabetes Australia Research grant will support research into how changes in the gut health of babies could contribute to the development of type 1 diabetes later in life. This could pave the way for new treatments to prevent type 1 diabetes.

“Another study will look at ways of preventing the pancreas from ageing, which could be a step towards new treatments to prevent type 2 diabetes.

“Diabetes-related complications are one of the most devasting impacts of the condition and we are supporting studies looking at ways of improving outcomes in foot, heart and kidney complications. 

“The program is also funding research into emerging issues including the impact of COVID-19 on people living with diabetes.”

See the table below for a full list of successful researchers and their projects.

This year’s researchers are working in universities and institutes around Australia, including Monash University, University of Tasmania, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, University of Newcastle, Menzies School of Health Research, James Cook University, The Council of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR Berghofer), University of Queensland, Flinders University, University of Adelaide, Deakin University, St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, University of Melbourne, and the University of Western Australia.

Chair of the Diabetes Australia Research Trust, Lucy Brogden AM, said the Diabetes Australia Research Program was established 36 years ago to support and develop diabetes-related research across Australia.

“Over the past 12 years the program has provided more than $36 million to support diabetes research,” Mrs Brogden said.  

“The successful research recipients have been chosen after a competitive, peer-reviewed selection process to ensure that we’re getting the maximum return of investment to ensure the biggest impact on the lives of people living with diabetes.

“We will continue to fundraise and invest in diabetes research to improve the quality of life for people living with diabetes and work towards prevention.”

People can help the Diabetes Australia Research Program fund more vital diabetes research by joining our regular tax deductible giving program. Click here for more details.

RESEARCHER	INSTITUTE	PROJECT
Dr Jennifer Snaith	Garvan Institute of Medical Research	Reducing Cardiometric Risk with Semaglutide in Type 1 Diabetes (The RESET1 Study)
Dr Emily Cox	University of Newcastle	Enhancing Exercise Prescription and Adherence for Type 2 Diabetes Management for Adults with Long-COVID
Dr Soren Madsen	University of Sydney	Cross Species Analysis of Hepatic Steatosis
Dr Stewart Masson	University of Sydney	A genetic α-defensin variant provides mechanistic insight into the host-microbiome interaction that controls whole body insulin sensitivity
Dr Hooi Hooi Ng	University of Sydney	Redox Regulation of the Na+-K+ Pump ß1-subunit in Diabetes-induced Vascular Calcification
Associate Professor Natasha Rogers	University of Sydney	Ageing and beta cell dysfunction – can the endocrine pancreas be saved?
Associate Professor Melkam Kebede	University of Sydney	Understanding the heterogeneity of insulin secretory granules
Dr Stefanie Puszka	Menzies School of Health Research	Towards the development of a family-based approach to type 2 diabetes care in First Nations communities in the Northern Territory
Professor Jonathan Golledge	James Cook University	Assessing a novel drug therapy for ischemic ulceration
Dr James Krycer	The Council of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR Berghofer)	Using organoids to elucidate how muscle contraction improves insulin action
Associate Professor Emma Hamilton-Williams	University of Queensland	Gut microbial metabolites during early-life development as predictors of islet autoimmunity
Professor Jamie Craig	Flinders University	Developing genomic predictors for diabetic retinopathy
Dr Vida Bitarafan	University of Adelaide	Combining lauric acid and tryptophan to lower postprandial blood glucose and reduce food intake in type 2 diabetes – developing a novel, nutrient-based management strategy
Dr Chinmay Marathe	University of Adelaide	Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy in Indigenous Australians with Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes
Professor Chris Rayner	University of Adelaide	Impact of renal ‘sweet taste’ sensing on the risk of dysglycaemia
Professor Gary Wittert	University of Adelaide	Improving chronic disease outcomes remotely with a digital nudge in individuals with type 2 diabetes
Associate Professor Tongzhi Wu	University of Adelaide	Targeting intestinal bile acid sensing mechanisms to manage type 2 diabetes
Dr Jantina Manning	University of South Australia	Uncovering NEDD4L as a new regulator and potential biomarker in diabetic nephropathy
Dr Dino Premilovac	University of Tasmania	Understanding the role of insulin in the healthy and type 2 diabetic brain
Professor Judy de Haan	Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute	Validating a unique anti-inflammatory therapy to treat heart failure after a heart attack in Type 2 diabetic patients with co-morbid hypertension.
Dr Kevin Huynh	Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute	Plasma lipidomics to assess glucose tolerance and risk of type 2 diabetes
Dr Elizabeth Holmes-Truscott	Deakin University	Perceptions and experiences of social stigma among women with gestational diabetes: An exploratory qualitative study and development of a novel questionnaire employing co-design
Associate Professor Melinda Coughlan	Monash University	Boosting regulatory T cells with kidney-targeted nanoparticles to treat diabetic kidney disease
Dr Tracey Gaspari	Monash University	Pharmacological targeting of IRAP to resolve diabetes-induced cardiovascular complications
Dr Jay Jha	Monash University	Evaluating NOX5 as a promising therapeutic target for diabetic kidney disease
Associate Professor Lisa Moran	Monash University	Addressing type 2 diabetes risk in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): A partnership between Monash Health PCOS clinic and Diabetes Victoria Life! community program
Professor Raymond Norton	Monash University	Novel Peptide-Based Inhibitors of Protein Kinase Ce Interactions as Dual-Action Agents for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
Professor Rebecca Ritchie	Monash University	Lifting the Veil: Sex-specific Cardiac Benefits of Next-Generation Glucose-Lowering Therapy
Dr Arpeeta Sharma	Monash University	Inhibiting Complement C5a Receptor1 to Improve Heart Function in Type 2 Diabetes
Dr Chris Tikellis	Monash University	Splice-switching Oligonucleotides Targeting ACE2 for the Treatment of Diabetic k Kidney Disease
Dr Andrew Sutherland	St Vincents Institute of Medical Research	T cell Engineering for Enhancement of T Regulatory Cell Function in Type 1 Diabetes
Dr Garron Dodd	University of Melbourne	Targeting Fibrosis in the Brain: A New Class of Drugs to Treat Type-2 Diabetes
Dr John Karas	University of Melbourne	Oral Insulin
Professor Paul Fournier	University of Western Australia	Does Drinking Water Before and During Exercise in the Heat Increase the Risk of Hypoglycaemia in People with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
Dr Shaun Teo	University of Western Australia	Developing Educational Exercise Resources to Improve Awareness and Knowledge of Type 1 Diabetes within Community Sport Settings