Diabetics to help design medical research, while PhDs get a funding injection

A key component of the strategy is an online platform, the Hub, which will bring together training, engagement tools and potential funding sources. It will be available to local and international partners, to encourage collaboration.

The Hub will include a portal dedicated to ‘lived experience research’, by which people living with diabetes will be invited to participate in and shape research, and learn about breakthroughs and research updates.

“We have listened to the research community, to industry partners and people living with diabetes to design an approach that ensures our significant investment, made possible by the generous support of our donors, achieves maximum impact,” said Diabetes Australia’s director of research, Professor Grant Brinkworth.

The strategy also looks to nurture early- to mid-career researchers to ensure Australia’s pipeline of research talent, by funding PhD scholarships and fellowships, the first of which is being co-funded by Western Sydney University.

Driving that work will be a $1.4 million bequest from the late Sheila Woodcock, which will fund a PhD program named in her honour. Woodcock, from Newcastle, NSW, passed away in 2018, leaving an unexpected $14 million in bequests to be shared between 15 Australian charities.

More information

Diabetesaustralia.com.au/research