JDRF - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

In an exciting step forward for Australian type 1 diabetes research, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has confirmed that the Australian Government will provide $5 million funding to support the establishment of an Australian Clinical Trial Network for Type 1 Diabetes.

This announcement stems from the Prime Minister’s initial commitment to match the generous $500,000 pledge made by JDRF President Dr Sue Alberti AO at the recent Federal Kids in the House event in Canberra.

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When JDRF phoned Bev Dillon one recent afternoon, the mobile phone conversation was hampered by loud background noise. Where was Bev? “Out selling jelly babies, of course! Where else would I be in May?!”

May is Jelly Baby Month, one of the many charity merchandise campaigns that vie for the attention of generous Australians every week of the year. They support causes as diverse as Composting Awareness Week and World Migratory Bird Day, and that’s just in May!

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Sometimes it seems like every mention of diabetes in the media relates to the obesity epidemic, but it is possible to find stories about type 1 diabetes that are accurate and compelling.

Every year, JDRF seeks to recognise and reward examples of journalistic excellence through the Jelly Baby Media Awards.

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What is xenotransplantation?

For type 1 diabetes, xenotransplantation involves taking insulin-producing islets from animals —in this case, pigs—and transplanting them into people. Pigs are considered the best species for xenotransplantation because pig organs are similar in size and physiology to human organs and pig insulin has been shown to work effectively in humans.

Earlier this year, the Australian government’s National Health and Medical Research Council lifted a moratorium on the clinical use of xenotransplantation. The ruling came after five years of research into the possible side effects of the technique, particularly the potential transmission of disease from animals to humans. It concluded that xenotransplantation research can proceed, given that researchers adhere to strict guidelines, and that the associated risks with xenotransplantation are minimal and acceptable given the potential benefits.

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JDRF has announced a one year industry partnership with an Australian company to support a clinical trial into the use of encapsulated pig islets to treat type 1 diabetes.

The trial, being conducted in New Zealand by Living Cell Technologies, involves eight adult patients with established type 1 diabetes and hypoglycemia unawareness – a constant inability to sense when blood glucose levels are dropping dangerously low.

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