Campaigns - 14 November 2018

On the eve of World Diabetes Day, Diabetes Victoria celebrated with a reception for 120 guests at Government House, hosted by Her Excellency the Hon Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria and Patron of Diabetes Victoria, and Mr Anthony Howard QC.
 
The prestigious 2019 Diabetes Australian Research Program (DARP) awards were presented to 21 Victorian researchers who successfully secured a large slice of the $3.6 million funding pool. Diabetes Victoria contributed $1.4 million of this, building on a very proud record of almost $17 million since 2000.
 
The 2019 Victorian DARP grant awardees are from renowned organisations such as Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Monash University, Deakin University, University of Melbourne, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research.
 
Established in 1987, DARP supports and develops outstanding diabetes-related research across Australia. The program provides funding towards the prevention, management and cure of all types of diabetes, as well as enabling and fostering young and upcoming researchers in the field of diabetes research. Each year outstanding research projects are selected through a merit-based, competitive, peer review process. This year 52 projects were selected from the 320 applications received.
For more information on the DARP recipients, please click here. 

Attendees were treated to a guest speech from Susan Alberti AC, 2018 Victorian of the Year, philanthropist and diabetes advocate:

“This is an important day of reflection for those who have diabetes and their loved ones. By funding our leading researchers to find better ways to treat, prevent and find a cure for diabetes, Diabetes Victoria will continue to be at the forefront of advocacy and empowerment for people living with this chronic condition.”
 
World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year around the globe on 14 November. This date was chosen because it marks the anniversary of the birth of Sir Frederick Banting in 1891. Banting was an important Canadian clinician and researcher who, in conjunction with Charles Best in the early 1920s, made some profound discoveries about the role of insulin in monitoring blood glucose levels within our bodies.
 
This World Diabetes Day, Diabetes Victoria supported the International Diabetes Federation’s awareness campaign with the message: My diabetes family. All in it together.
 
Diabetes is a very demanding condition. Family often plays a key support role for those living with diabetes, providing emotional support and assistance with the day-to-day management of this relentless condition.
 
Diabetes Victoria joined the international Blue Monument Challenge and light up the Melbourne Town Hall façade in blue as a testament to the worldwide effort to raise awareness about diabetes and to engage the global diabetes community.