Australia’s 120,000 type 1 diabetes sufferers are set to benefit from a $4.5 million Turnbull Government funding boost for three new promising research projects.
The three Innovation Award grants from the Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Research Network support projects that include at least one researcher from outside the field of type 1 diabetes and are meant to promote collaboration between different areas of research specialisation.
Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the research funding would go to “some of Australia’s brightest minds” to search for a cure for type 1 diabetes.
“This funding is about ensuring no stone is left unturned in the search for a cure for type 1 diabetes,” Minister Birmingham said.
“The Innovation Award grants encourage creativity and new ways of thinking and nurture and support those smart ideas to help create a better future for Australians, including those with type 1 diabetes and their families.”
Minister Hunt said the funding support for the Innovation Award grants built on more than $35 million the Coalition Government was delivering for research into Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes research, a $54 million commitment for the National Diabetes Services Scheme and $1.5 million for additional insulin pumps for children.
“Researchers from all walks of life are working hard to help people with type 1 diabetes and their families and that sort of cross-discipline collaboration also has the potential to help patients suffering from other diseases,” Minister Hunt said.
“With the leadership of JDRF Australia and their Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Research Network, these grants will help strengthen and expand the fantastic skill set, knowledge base and capacity of diabetes researchers.”
The three Award recipients are:
- Associate Professor Charmaine Simeonovic – Australian National University, Canberra
- Associate Professor Stuart Mannering – St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne
- Associate Professor Shane Grey – Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney
The Innovation Award grants are awarded by the Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Research Network (T1DCRN) which is run by JDRF Australia and funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council’s Special Research Initiatives scheme.
For more information, please visit www.t1dcrn.org.au or www.jdrf.org.au