$14 Million for Juvenile Diabetes Research

09 Sep 2015 Media release

More than 1,500 Australians with type 1 diabetes will be able to access new trial therapies following the Australian Government’s commitment of $14 million in new research grants.

The Minister for Education and Training, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP said the grants are the first to be assessed through the Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Research Network, an innovative clinical research programme led by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Australia.

“The $14 million in new grants is part of the $35 million awarded to JDRF over five years through the Australian Research Council to fund the most promising research and researchers dedicated to finding a cure for type 1 juvenile diabetes and its complications,” Mr Pyne said.

“These exciting trials will be delivered collaboratively by more sites than ever before across Australia, and will help improve the lives of many Australians affected by this serious chronic disease.

“Today’s funding announcement will enable 1,532 Australian patients to access cutting edge trial therapies in the short term.

“Taking a broader view, the hope is that these clinical trials hold the key to life-changing therapies for all people affected by type 1 diabetes, here in Australia and globally.

“I congratulate the researchers on winning these important grants and I hope they bring us one step closer to discovering the next life-changing breakthroughs to prevent, treat, and even cure type 1 diabetes and its complications.”

For more information on the grants, please visit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation website.

For more information about the Special Research Initiative for Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes, please visit the Australian Research Council website.