In December 2024, we, Diabetes Australia, announced a $40 million investment commitment to diabetes research over the next decade – the largest ever commitment to diabetes research by a non-government funder in Australia.

Diabetes Australia’s leadership of research into all aspects of diabetes is crucial as the national peak body, representing the approximately 2 million Australians living with all types of diabetes and those at significant risk.

Over the past 100+ years, research has led to better understanding and the development of new technologies and medicines that have transformed the lives of people living with all types of diabetes.

But there is more to do.

The number of Australians living with diabetes continues to rise, including a 33 percent increase in people living with type 2 diabetes over the past decade. Diabetes complications continue to have a devastating impact on people’s lives and the health system. There remains the imperative to build on the valiant efforts and investment to-date to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.

Despite this great need to do more, funding for diabetes research has declined by more than 36 percent over the past decade.

Our commitment, which we will use to expand and extend the combined research efforts of the entire Australian research ecosystem – universities, private sector and government, seeks to address this erosion of funding. Working in collaboration with partners, we believe that we can have a profound and significant impact on Australia’s world-class diabetes research sector and to meaningfully contribute to the life changing benefits that it can achieve.

Future-focussed strategic approach to research

Diabetes Australia has been listening to the research sector and the millions of people living with diabetes and those at risk whose lives we are collectively striving to improve.
We have an ambitious goal – to eliminate the impact of diabetes on Australians. We want people living longer, healthier lives, and to ultimately work with the sector (both domestically and internationally) to find a cure.

Research is the only pathway to a ‘cure’ – whether through outright prevention, elimination of the condition or fully effective and seamless management of its impacts.

Following extensive consultation during 2024, we will soon release a new research strategy for diabetes in Australia, that is aligned with feedback from across the sector and importantly includes the feedback of Australians living with diabetes, and those at risk. Our ambitious approach to research responds to the challenges being faced by the sector and will harness the opportunities new technologies like artificial intelligence promise.

Our very significant financial commitment and fresh strategy will drive research to positively change the lives of people living with diabetes, including by:

• Investing in the diabetes research sector across all research areas (basic, clinical, health systems/ services, economic and public health)
• Prioritising investment to address the unmet needs of the diabetes community, and centralising lived experience throughout the research process
• Supporting the career development of early-to-mid career researchers, clinicians, and diabetes educators in order to encourage a thriving, dynamic and globally competitive research community
• Advocating strongly for increased diabetes research funding from government, industry, philanthropy, and donors
• Building capacity of the diabetes research sector that includes leveraging Diabetes Australia’s research investment to amplify research effort and seek greater funding from more sources, including by funding pilot projects leading to larger grants
• Establishing initiatives to grow capacity and collaboration, including upskilling programs and research networks.

Delivering on this future-focussed approach will require new approaches to governance and how we manage our investment to deliver the greatest impact for the sector and to change lives.

2026 research funding opportunities opening soon

In line with our investment commitment and aligned with our refreshed strategic approach to research, Diabetes Australia is pleased to advise that our next round of funding opportunities will be announced on 14 April 2025.

This will include 15 project grants valued at $100,000 each, a range of other grants, partnership awards and scholarships/ fellowship opportunities that will build capacity of the Australian diabetes research sector in alignment with Diabetes Australia’s mission and the priorities and expectations of our donors. This commitment, along with our philanthropic growth endeavours and partnering approach (such as the recently announced partnership with NIB Foundation valued at $750,000), reflects our determination to support and help build a thriving research community in Australia, along with other valued organisations across the diabetes research sector.

Further information on the available research awards opportunities available will be provided on 14 April 2025 via the Diabetes Australia website and Smarty Grants portal.

This next round of funding opportunities is in addition to Diabetes Australia’s initial Diabetes Community Priorities Grants funding round opened in late 2024, and will bring Diabetes Australia’s investment in research over the next 12 months to in excess of $3 million. In alignment with Diabetes Australia’s strategic approach to research, this funding format focuses on addressing the research priorities and unmet needs of people living with diabetes and the diabetes community, facilitating meaningful consumer and community engagement throughout all stages of the research lifecycle and to understand translational impact pathways to improve the lives of people living with diabetes sooner.

Australian diabetes researchers are working to find a cure for diabetes, learn more about prevention and complications management, and ultimately support people with diabetes to live longer, healthier lives.

Diabetes Australia is proud to support our world leading researchers.

Justine Cain
Group Chief Executive Officer
Diabetes Australia