New Australian diabetes research grant program

11 March 2008

Australian researchers and the type 1 diabetes community are set to benefit from a new grants program that promotes innovative scientific research, as part of a new partnership between the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and the Macquarie Group Foundation.

Through the existing national funding system a significant proportion of grants are directed towards established research programs. While this ensures that quality research is supported to fruition, it leaves an enormous funding gap at the vital early stages of research.

The JDRF Macquarie Group Foundation Diabetes Research Innovation Program aims to address this by supporting innovative and potentially groundbreaking research at the “discovery” stage.  Each year up to three Australian researchers will receive $100,000 funding each to investigate novel or unconventional ideas.

Grant recipients will be chosen from the thousands of applications received by JDRF annually and reviewed by an international panel of expert scientists. Applications must demonstrate a strong likelihood of making a future impact on the understanding or treatment of type 1 diabetes and its complications.

JDRF CEO Mike Wilson says this will encourage innovation and support Australian researchers with big ideas.

“There is a fine balance between providing vital ongoing funding and encouraging the exploration of new ideas. These grants are intended to provide researchers with leading edge but as yet unproved ideas the means to test their innovative hypotheses,” he said.

“Through this program, we also hope to encourage Australia’s most talented researchers to apply themselves and their ideas to the serious health challenges caused by type 1 diabetes.

“If just a few of these ideas make a difference, the investment will be more than worth it for the 140,000 Australian children and adults with type 1 diabetes.”

Head of the Macquarie Group Foundation, Julie White, said the Foundation had a strong record of supporting research and encouraging innovation across the social sector.

“The research community in Australia is widely respected internationally and, in our partnership with JDRF, we hope to encourage and support researchers as they tackle the mystery of type 1 diabtetes,” she said.

The partnership between JDRF and the Macquarie Group Foundation is designed to increase the volume and impact of Australian diabetes research, with the ultimate aim of speeding up discovery and access to a cure. The Macquarie Group Foundation will commit $2.2 million to the partnership over four years.

For more information or interviews please contact:
Gayle McNaught │ JDRF │ 0401 625 905
Agata Kenna │ Macquarie Group Foundation │ 0400 305 767