Funding for 19 promising diabetes research projects announced
Nineteen newly funded Victorian diabetes research studies could pave the way to improved medical treatments for more than 360,000 Victorians living with diabetes. Among the promising projects, funded through the Diabetes Australia Research Program (DARP), is a proposal to bio-engineer an alternative source of blood vessels generated in a laboratory from a patient's own cells, in order to help heal diabetic foot ulcers and thus minimise the risk of amputations.
“Research like this is the key to making advances in the prevention and management of diabetes, and ultimately in the search for a cure,” says Craig Bennett, CEO of Diabetes Victoria. “Diabetes Victoria strives to support world class research to further our understanding of this serious and complex condition and lead to the next critical development.”
In a COVID-safe webinar tomorrow evening (29 April), Diabetes Victoria will celebrate 19 Victorian-based researchers who have each been awarded up to $60,000 in funding for their work.
The DARP provides funding for research into the prevention and management of all aspects of diabetes, with a particular focus on enabling and fostering young and upcoming researchers in the field of diabetes. Each year, outstanding projects broadly encompassing basic, clinical, psycho-social and translational diabetes-related research are selected through a merit-based, competitive and peer-reviewed process.
Diabetes Victoria is a proud supporter of the DARP. Over the last 20 funding rounds, Diabetes Victoria has contributed more than $18 million to the DARP funding pool. “We are particularly proud to commit another $1 million for the 2021 DARP funding pool - after a very challenging and unprecedented year,” adds Mr Bennett. “Every dollar directed towards research is important. Each research project funded may hold a vital key to that next development, helping to make a real difference.”
This year’s successful Victorian-based researchers work at some of the state’s most prestigious institutions, such as: Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Monash University, Deakin University, The University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
While there is no cure for any type of diabetes, prevalence rates are steadily increasing for type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. “We know that more than 360,000 Victorians have been diagnosed with diabetes and are registered with the National Diabetes Services Scheme,” Mr Bennett says. “We estimate that another 125,000 Victorians live with type 2 diabetes but, worryingly, do not know it.”
We support, empower and campaign for
all Victorians affected by, or at risk of, diabetes.
For more information:
Jane Kneebon Sybille Taylor
0416 148 845 0408 102 344
jkneebone@diabetesvic.org.au staylor@diabetesvic.org.au
2021 DARP General Grants for Victoria
| Researcher | Institute | Project Title |
| Dr Man Lee | Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute | Inducing apoptosis in platelets reduces atherosclerosis in mice with diabetes |
| Dr Christel Hendrieckx | Deakin University | Determining the next decade of difference in diabetes: psychosocial and behavioural research priority setting for and by those affected by diabetes |
| Associate Professor Michelle Keske | Deakin University | Oral glucose tolerance test causes acute skeletal muscle microvascular insulin resistance in healthy people: determining the gut-derived factors that underpin microvascular impairments |
| Dr Chris Shaw | Deakin University | Fasting hyperinsulinemia remodels adipose tissue metabolism to drive obesity and insulin resistance |
| Dr Maria Jelinic | La Trobe University | To 'B' or not to 'B'? Sex differences and the role of B cells in obesity- related kidney disease |
| Dr Abdul Waheed Khan | Monash University | Role of EZH2 in atherosusceptible vascular endothelium in diabetes associated atherosclerosis |
| Dr Frank Ma | Monash University | Overcoming vulnerability and improving outcomes of acute kidney injury in diabetic patients |
| Dr Darnel Prakoso | Monash University | Elucidating the transcriptomic profile of impaired glucose metabolism in diabetic female hearts |
| Professor Sharon Ricardo | Monash University | Using an injectable hydrogel for the sustained therapeutic release of bioinspired cell-free secretome to alleviate diabetic kidney damage |
| Professor Rebecca Ritchie | Monash University | Understanding the sex-specific benefits of glucose-lowering therapies in the diabetic heart |
| Dr Adam Rose | Monash University | Towards precision amino acid restriction as a therapy for type 2 diabetes |
| Dr Matthew Snelson | Monash University | Using dietary therapy to slow the progression of diabetic kidney disease |
| Associate Professor Greg Tesch | Monash University | Use of an early urine biomarker to identify individuals who can best benefit from ASK1 inhibitor therapy during diabetes |
| Associate Professor Geraldine Mitchell | St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research | Bio-engineering a vascular platform for surgical reconstruction of diabetic wounds |
| Associate Professor Tim Hewitson | The Royal Melbourne Hospital | Metabolic priming and reprogramming of the glomerulus in diabetic kidney disease |
| Dr Stacey Keenan | University of Melbourne | Cutting the fat: targeting HSD17ß11 to regulate lipid metabolism and glycaemic control |
| Dr Magdalene Montgomery |
University of Melbourne | Hexosaminidase A (HEXA) – a new therapeutic target for glycaemic control |
| Dr Sarah Price |
University of Melbourne |
Using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to explore glucose as a mediator of adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with obesity |
| Dr John Karas | University of Melbourne | Low cost insulin therapeutics |
