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We are funding diabetes research aimed at a greater understanding of its causes, identifying those at risk, and developing effective prevention strategies through a combination of biomedical, behavioural, and public health research.

Areas of research include: 

• Identifying genetic and environmental risk factors that contribute to diabetes onset 
• Improving screening and risk prediction tools to enable earlier and more targeted interventions 
• Designing and testing lifestyle and behavioural interventions to reduce modifiable risk factors such as obesity, inactivity, and poor nutrition 
• Understanding the social and cultural determinants that influence diabetes risk, and develop strategies to help reduce diabetes risk 
• Developing public health campaigns and community-based programs to raise awareness of how to prevent diabetes

Bold Idea

Dr Vicky Tsai, a researcher at St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research at the University of NSW was supported by Diabetes Australia in her drive to discover a deeper understanding of GDF15-GFRAL signalling pathway’s role in appetite regulation and metabolic control.

Impact

Her work, alongside other leading scientists, has highlighted GDF15 as a key appetite-regulating receptor with major implications for weight management and improved metabolic health. Dr Tsai’s contributions thus far have helped drive several advances. GDF15-based therapies are now in multiple clinical trials for obesity management. Strategies to block GDF15 has also been identified as a potential pathway to reverse cachexia (body wasting with weight and muscle loss), and DR. Tsai’s research could further assist to improve outcomes for people undergoing chemotherapy. 

Further research and developments are leveraging these findings. Patented innovations for obesity treatment are paving the way for next-generation metabolic therapies. Research that complements existing obesity and diabetes treatments (such as GLP-1 receptor agonists) has potential for combination therapies that address both weight management and blood sugar control more effectively. 

Dr Tsai’s collaborative work is driving innovation that not only targets cachexia and obesity but also holds promise for preventing diabetes and improving quality of life. 

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