The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has announced a $35 million investment package in Australian research in a bid to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.

The announcement was made ahead of World Diabetes Day on Sunday 14 November, with JDRF partnering the federal government and ipac Securities to fund what the organisation describes as an ‘extraordinary level’ of research funding, which is believed to be a record in Australia.

CEO of JDRF, Ms Sheila Royles said Type 1 (also known as juvenile or insulin-dependent) diabetes was the most serious form of diabetes.

“More than 140,000 Australian children and adults suffer from the unpreventable, life-long condition which can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, nerve damage, blindness and amputation. Type 1 diabetes is conservatively estimated to cost the Australian community $2.5 billion to treat each year,” she said.

“With incidence of type 1 diabetes increasing by 37% over the last decade, the enormous economic and social costs associated with the disease will only continue to increase.

“JDRF is determined that type 1 diabetes will the first chronic disease to be eradicated, and that will only happen through a concerted, large-scale commitment to medical research. Clinical trials are the costliest and most demanding phase of research, so investment of this magnitude is absolutely critical for progress.”

The $35 million will support a diverse and expanding program of research, including an islet transplantation research centre, 27 individual research projects and a program to support young scientists. Details of the funding follow:

Islet Transplantation Global Centre of Excellence - $25 million

The transplantation of insulin-producing islet cells has emerged as one of the most promising avenues for a cure. Over 300 people around the world have already been cured of type 1 diabetes through this revolutionary procedure.

The federal government and JDRF are joining together to establish a world-class research centre which aims to take islet cell transplantation from an experimental procedure to a genuine clinical option for all Australians with type 1 diabetes. Funding for the $25 million Islet Transplantation Global Centre of Excellence ($23.5 million from the government and $1.5 million from JDRF*) was announced by Mr Tony Abbott MP, Minister for Health, prior to the federal election.

“We applaud the foresight of the federal government in recognizing the promise of this life-transforming procedure and understanding the importance of funding research to make it a reality,” said Ms Royles. “Without this level of support, an Australian islet transplantation program is not possible. Now, Australia can not only establish a clinical program of islet transplantation for appropriate patients, for the first time we can also join the co-ordinated international effort to solve the remaining problems of islet transplantation.”

* JDRF and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) already fund seven diabetes research projects, with JDRF committing $17.6 million to the research program and the NHMRC $7.5 million between 2001 and 2006.

JDRF Research Grants - $9 million

JDRF is the world’s largest non-profit, non-governmental contributor of funds to diabetes research, funding an estimated 35% of all type 1 diabetes related research globally. In the year ahead, JDRF will commit $9 million to 27 research projects around Australia. In addition to research already underway, JDRF recently awarded 5 new grants. Funding for further projects will be announced early in 2005.

• Dr James de Jersey, Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct (US$103,000)
• Dr Murthy Krishna, St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research (US$105,000)
• Dr Leon Bach, University of Melbourne (US$472,500)
• Dr Susan McLennan, University of Sydney (US$ 425,000)
• Dr George Werther, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (US$384,000)
  

ipac Securities “Young Scientists Program” - $180,000

Six of Australia’s most respected investment strategists and commentators have joined with JDRF to encourage Australia’s brightest and most talented young scientists to study type 1 diabetes. The ‘ipac Securities Young Scientists Program’ will provide $180,000 over the next three years for various research grants, all of which target promising scientists at the start of their careers, to further their expertise in the study of type 1 diabetes.

The six ipac Securities directors and their wives - Paul & Vicki Clitheroe, Arun Abey & Assunta Perera, Peeyush & Shubhra Gupta, Suvan & Shamistha de Soysa, Steve & Roey Higgs and Darryl & Judy Harford – are personally supporting the ‘ipac Securities Young Scientists Program’.

“By providing financial support early in their careers, we hope to give promising young investigators an opportunity to establish themselves at the leading edge of diabetes research,” said ipac Securities Chairman Arun Abey.

For further information:

Karolyn Andrews, Media & PR Manager, JDRF
Ph. 02 9966 0400 (x203) or 0403 787 077 | email: kandrews@jdrf.org.au