Diabetes Australia co-funds research project grants and awards with aligned health agencies to support diabetes research innovation. 

These partnerships help us amplify resources to maximise research impact. This includes externally-led funding initiatives – such as Partnership grants and Centres of Research Excellence seeking NHMRC funding – where researchers approach Diabetes Australia to co-fund strategically aligned, community-prioritised research partnerships.

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Diabetes Australia RACP Research Establishment Fellowship 

In partnership with the Royal Australian College of Physicians (RACP), each year Diabetes Australia funds one $50,000 fellowship to promote clinical and basic research into the cause, prevention and treatment of diabetes.

Further details on this award are provided on the RACP website.

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Diabetes in General Practice Research Grant  

In partnership with the Australian General Practice Research Foundation, each year Diabetes Australia funds one $60,000 Diabetes in General Practice Research Grant for a principal investigator who is a general practitioner or general practitioner registrar.

Further information is provided on the RACGP website.   

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Medibank and Diabetes Australia Research Award

Targeting prevention of Type 2 diabetes in priority populations in primary care

Applications closed 19 December 2025.

The Medibank Better Health Research Hub and Diabetes Australia have a shared commitment to funding high-quality research that focuses on collaboration, meaningful consumer engagement and research translation to improve health service delivery and health outcomes for people living with and/or at risk of diabetes.

Through a newly established joint research grant, we are calling for research projects that focus on implementation of innovative early interventions in primary care to prevent type 2 diabetes in people living with pre-diabetes and priority populations. This includes innovative models that address healthcare workforce issues, including education and training, peer support and care integration to improve prevention, screening and early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in primary care to prevent and reduce the conversion rate to long-term, advanced diabetes in Australians.

Applications will be assessed on scientific merit, meaningful consumer and community involvement and ability to tangibly improve primary healthcare service delivery. We welcome applications that demonstrate strong potential and a considered approach for scalable translation of research outcomes into practice.

One award of up to $200,000 for a project of up to two years will be offered to researchers of any career stage addresses the focus area of the award.

Please read the Research Award Guidelines before completing your application.

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CFRD Community Needs Assessment –
Research Priority Setting

Request for Proposal

Submissions close 3 May 2026.

Diabetes Australia, Cystic Fibrosis Queensland and Cystic Fibrosis Research Limited, with funding provided through the generosity of donors, are seeking proposals from expert researchers, research institutes, health organisations and qualified consultants to complete a comprehensive Community Needs Assessment to identify the unmet needs to inform research priorities of the Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes (CFRD) community. Up to $80,000 AUD is available to complete the project.

You can find further information on this opportunity and how to submit a Request for Proposal in the Request for Proposal guidelines, with submissions to be made via the Diabetes Australia SmartyGrants portal.

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