JDRF - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council has lifted a five-year ban on the clinical use of xenotransplantation – a medical process involving the transplantation of animal tissue into humans to treat disease.

The ban was originally established by the NHMRC in 2004 to allow for further research into the possible side effects of the technique, particularly concerning the potential transmission of disease from animals to humans.

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After visiting the White House to meet US President Barack Obama with 150 young people from around the world earlier this year, JDRF Youth Ambassador Brendan still had a couple more names on his list of world leaders to meet and talk about type 1 diabetes. He was able to cross another name off recently when he had dinner with the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd.

JDRF: How did you come to meet the PM?

Brendan: My Federal MP, Roger Price, invited me to his annual dinner dance.  He was being honoured for serving 25 years in Parliament and invited the PM as his guest of honour.  When we arrived at the dance, I was told by Mr Price’s staff that I would be sitting next to Mr Rudd for dinner, which was quite exciting!

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It started as a simple meat raffle to do a bit for charity on Melbourne Cup Day, and turned into one of the biggest events that Palmers Island has seen for a while…

Just a few short months before, Sarah had rushed through the doors of Geelong Hospital with a seriously ill toddler in her arms, and little idea that her life was about to change dramatically. She was devastated hours later to learn that her beautiful 17 month old son James had type 1 diabetes.

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A JDRF-funded clinical trial has shown that a drug used to treat certain types of cancer can protect beta cells, and therefore preserve insulin production, in people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

The trial, conducted in the US through the international Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet consortium and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, provides the first conclusive evidence that it is possible to target particular types of immune cells to reduce or prevent the onset of type 1 diabetes.

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JDRF-funded researchers at the University of Queensland have launched a clinical trial into a new blood test they hope will be able to accurately predict people at risk of type 1 diabetes.

The test is the result of research that has identified a link between the onset of type 1 diabetes and a special type of protein called NF-Kappa B. In a healthy immune system, this protein is an important component of the immune response to infection. In people with type 1 diabetes, and seemingly also in people at risk of developing type 1 diabetes, this protein is constantly activated resulting in the autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.

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More than 30 paintings by some of Australia’s leading artists will be auctioned on 6 December to raise money for research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.

Artists like David Larwill, Tim Storrier and Sally Smart have created special artworks for the 6 December auction at Mossgreen in Toorak, with hopes of raising $100,000.

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The Sydney Opera House joined 600 major global landmarks on Saturday night by turning blue for World Diabetes Day 2009.

Across the world, blue landmarks like the London Eye, the Empire State Building and Tokyo Tower helped to turn global attention to diabetes. Two JDRF Youth Ambassadors, Matt and Nikita, were on hand in Sydney to talk about the special challenge of type 1 diabetes.

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In 2009 the Walk to Cure Diabetes is a celebration of hope and progress towards a cure for type 1 diabetes. This year, two of the participants from Melbourne – a healthy little girl and a middle aged woman battling health challenges – highlight the progress that has been made in diabetes management over the last few decades.

Billie is 8 years old and her family is one of the top fundraisers for the Walk to Cure Diabetes. She is on an insulin pump, which is proven to reduce the risk of diabetes complications. Despite the daily pain and burden of managing type 1 diabetes, her health prospects are improving all the time thanks to new knowledge of the disease and its complications.

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Strap on the helmet and pull on the lycra – the Ride to Cure Diabetes is on again in January 2010. JDRF’s annual cycling event covers the best of the picturesque Barossa Valley with three courses of 35, 80 or 160kms.

Last year the Ride to Cure Diabetes raised over $1.3 million in critical funds for Australian research in type 1 diabetes. Those results are expected to be matched in 2010, with up to 350 Riders expected to don helmets and lycra to support the cause.

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Put simply, the hygiene hypothesis refers to the idea that our decreasing interaction with infectious bugs and germs may leave result in some people becoming more susceptible to autoimmune attacks. As the term suggests, it is a hypothesis or idea that has been investigated by diabetes researchers since the early 1990’s.

Over time, scientists have broken the hypothesis down into two primary parts. The first involves our declining relationships with certain types of bacteria. A nice big colony of friendly gut bacteria helps keep our immune system in check. As our diets and lifestyles change, we are losing our healthy tummies and increasing our risk of developing autoimmune diseases.

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