PM commits new funds for diabetes research
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd yesterday committed to match a $500,000 funding contribution made by President of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in Australia, Dr Susan Alberti AO. He also committed to additional matching government funding for JDRF to a total of $5 million into the future.
One hundred JDRF Youth Ambassadors aged 3 to 32, all with type 1 diabetes, converged on Parliament House to personally ask for government funding for type 1 diabetes research and a Clinical Trials Network (CTN).
Photo: 247 Studios
Prior to the PM’s arrival at the presentation, supporters, including nearly 100 MPs and Senators, simultaneously pricked their fingers to check their blood sugar in a gesture of solidarity for those who live with type 1 diabetes and must do this up to 8 times a day.
Dr Alberti’s personal commitment of $500,000 is the inaugural donation to the JDRF CTN Fund, which is targeted to reach $10 million. Total funding required to establish a CTN in Australia is forecast at $50 million.
The Prime Minister said “Dr Susan Alberti AO is one of Australia’s leading philanthropists, and her tireless commitment to diabetes research is an example to all”.
Dr Alberti said “I am pleased to be playing my part in establishing a Clinical Trials Network in Australia to improve the lives of all the children and adults affected by this disease.”
JDRF CEO Mike Wilson welcomed the commitments made by Dr Alberti and the Prime Minister as an important initial step towards launching a CTN.
“This is a strong and positive first step towards the proposed $40m of Government support to enable the establishment of an Australian CTN.”
“Australia is home to some of the world’s top scientists and we punch above our weight in terms of research, but there is room for improvement translating research into outcomes for patients.”
“A Clinical Trials Network would attract international clinical trials and new investment to Australia, and help the best Australian science progress to where people can benefit. We should take every opportunity to be the clever country.”
“Public investment in research delivers substantial long term benefits and a Clinical Trials Network would be one step towards reducing one of the heaviest burdens on Australia’s health system – diabetes.”
“Australia has one of the highest rates of type 1 diabetes in the world and the rate of new cases in Australian children is rising by 3% every year. This situation is urgent.”
The 100 Youth Ambassadors from electorates across the country spent the day meeting personally with MPs to explain why they desperately need government funding for projects like the CTN, to improve Australian patients’ access to the latest science and speed up the process of curing this serious disease.
They were joined by one of the newest recruits of AFL team The Western Bulldogs, Sam Reid. Sam announced earlier this year that he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in November. He joined the Youth Ambassadors to share stories about managing blood glucose levels during sport.
Yay, youth ambassador's!!!! You should all be very proud!!! We did a great job!!!!
I am a mum of a little girl who has type 1 diabetes & we were there too!!
I think you are all very special!!!
Fantastic!! Clinical trials could be the difference between finding a cure or not, great work kids!!!
Let's remember this is just a start – not even close to what we were asking for – but a start. Thank you to the legendary Sue Alberti – we will all just have to work extra hard now to ensure that we raise half the funds that we need for the Clinical Trials Network and then we can hold Mr Rudd to his word. Keep fighting the fight !!!
Kudos and huge thanks to Dr Sue Alberti for her incredibly generous and heart-felt pledge. Knowing the steely determination and unwavering passion of JDRF Australia staff and advocates, we will get this money to start a Clinical Trials Network. We need this trials network more than ever before, for our children and their future. Sensational work, Youth Ambassadors!
on the plane qantas captain stated they have envelopes if you could place any spare coins in them and hand them to staff they will forward it to unicef he also said they have raise over $20 million so far! whhy cant we get other airlines to do same for JDRF???? it all helps right?????
Wow! Well done! You all should be extremely proud of yourselves. I am a mother of an amazing 22mth old boy diagnosed with type 1… 9 mths ago. How it turned our lives upside down! We placed our son on an insulin pump immediately. This dramatically helped our diabetic struggle. Oh how i wish i could buy each of your children pumps, and now it's within all your reach. Our kids should not have to live with this intrusion in their growing lives. Thank you Susan for your continued support, financially and for your tireless commitment. Lets push Rudd further, we need awareness in our childrens childcare centres and schools.
Hello,
We were there too!! What a great way to help all the people who have type 1. I felt very grateful that we could try and get the government to fund the clinical trials network. would be great to have a cure for all of those who live with this every day now. I was proud to be able to help and see all those wonderful children trying so hard to help others, Well done kids!!
This is so welcoming to hear, our 6 year old daughter was diagnosed 3 weeks ago today and we will never forget march the 4th being the first day that has changed the way we live forever. Our girl has been so brave and she is starting to adjust to her new lifestyle. Finger pricks and daily injections are her life and this frightens us as parents. Bring on a cure and lets be hopeful for all children with type 1 diabetes.
Our daughter was 10 when she was diagnosed nearly 3 years ago. It does change your life dramatically but it is possible to work through it and life will get back to some sort of normalicy – even though it is a new type of normal. I wish you, your daughter and family all the best.
A cure would be a wish come true. Our 6 year old daughter was diagnosed 7 months ago and it turned our lives upside down. Them she was diagnosed with Coeliacs disease. Thank goodness for the insulin pump. Bring on a cure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to all those who participated. Although i am only 22 I have been a diabetic for nearly 18 years and feel very proud that there are people out there willing to fight for us! Hopefully one day there will be a cure and we can all be free from diabetes!
Thankyou to all the families who tirelessly support fundraising, awareness and their children. I am a mum of two boys with Type 1 and it's great to see the government pledging funds. Keep up the good work everyone you all inspire me!!!
I'm proud of all the kids and their families who attended Kids in the House, especially the kids who spoke at the luncheon and of course, my daughter ! It was an emotional time that really made me realise that with passion, we can all help to find a cure. We have to continue lobbying the government for funding – a cure is possible and it will happen with the fantastic support of JDRF and the wonderful support of Dr Alberti, who keeps us inspired.
It's good to see funding being granted but how come it never produces any practical results for diabetics in terms of treatment, cure etc? There has been no change in regards to the management of diabetes for over 20 years. I have been diabetic for 21 years and nothing is different since I was diagnosed. What has happened to all that money that has been invested in research since then???
My daughter was 7 years old when she was diagnosed – 31 August 1975 – you never forget the date, the pain never goes away and your life is changed forever. She now has a beautiful 7 year old daughter and I'm still looking forward to the day there's a cure. Stay strong for her so she can remain positive and enjoy life. Good luck. Thanks Mr Rudd – we could use more $$.
[...] a Clinical Trials Network for diabetes. This supplements the $5 million that former PM Kevin Rudd announced back in [...]