Australian of the Year Embarks on Groundbreaking New Research
25 January 2005

JDRF welcomes the recognition of Professor Ian Frazer as 2006 Australian of the Year for his contribution to research progress, including his work with the human papilloma virus vaccine.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) was pleased to announce recently that Professor Frazer will be Chairing the Executive Board of the Islet Transplant Program. Islet cell transplantation holds huge promise as a cure for type 1 diabetes and involves harvesting insulin producing beta cells from a donor pancreas and infusing them into the portal vein of the recipient's liver, removing the need for insulin injections.

Funded by the Department for Health and Aging, JDRF has been charged with establishing and managing the Islet Transplant Program in Australia that will help take islet transplantation from an experimental procedure to a real clinical option for the 140,000 Australians with type 1 diabetes.

Professor Frazer has also worked closely with JDRF for many years as a key member of the Joint NHMRC/JDRF Grant Review Panel.

JDRF CEO, Mike Wilson, said, "Professor Ian Frazer has played an important role in JDRF's research program in the past and will be instrumental in the future in establishing a successful Islet Transplant Program in Australia. We are delighted that Professor Frazer has been recognised with this prestigious award for his work in discovering the human papilloma virus vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.

"Professor Frazer's contribution to society reaches far beyond his better known research acheivements. He gives his time, skills and valuable experience to JDRF generously and freely, as well as advising and supporting other not-for-profit foundations and funds."

ENDS

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

About JDRF:
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the world's largest not-for-profit supporter of diabetes research, investing $130 million in the search to find a cure for type 1 diabetes each year. JDRF was founded in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, a disease which strikes people suddenly, makes them dependent on multiple daily injections of insulin to survive and at risk of devastating health complications like blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and amputation.