$35m for Diabetes Research

Minister for Health Peter Dutton announced approval of $35m in funding for the Special Research Initiative for Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes, allowing the first funding payments to be made and work to start. The initiative, administered by the Australian Research Council, looked to build a national collaborative research network that supported and promoted the most promising researchers and projects, and a research program working towards finding a cure for the disease, the Department of Health said.

Dutton said it affected 122,000 Australians, of which about 20,000 were children. The Australian Research Council has advised $7m per year over five years would be provided and as there was still a competitive process to be undertaken, it was not able to answer specific questions about the research program with regard to pharmaceutical treatments, and whether this would be a focus.

"The Initiative will involve researchers with track records in quality research outcomes and coordinating team-based cross-disciplinary projects."

Medicines Australia CEO Dr Brendan Shaw said there had been advances in the availability of innovative diabetes medicines over the past decade, with many new medicines under development. "Australia’s public and private sectors continue to work hard to develop new treatments for a range of chronic diseases including diabetes, and the collaboration between the Australian Government and industry is crucial to delivering discovery-driven research and incentives for new and improved treatment options."

Learn more on diabetes in the education module below.

Source: pharmacydaily.com.au, Monday 14 July 2014