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.

The establishment of a Clinical Trial Network in Australia has been flagged as top priority by the type 1 diabetes research community and, according to JDRF Australia Head of Research Dr Dorota Pawlak, will make a significant difference to our ability to improve outcomes for people with diabetes in Australia.

“Clinical trials are the final stage in the research process and as such are essential to translating laboratory research into the new methods of prevention and treatment that are so desperately needed,” explains Dr Pawlak.

“Australia is recognised as a world leader in type 1 diabetes research, but our current research infrastructure can make it difficult for this knowledge to be effectively used.”

“Not only will the Australian type 1 diabetes clinical trial network speed up the process of finding a cure for this insidious disease, it will attract international funding and provide a proven return on investment for the public funds directed towards type 1 diabetes research in the past.”

“It will also allow us to participate in international clinical trials – a huge benefit for both researchers and people with type 1 diabetes.”

JDRF CEO Mike Wilson applauds the ongoing support and commitment of the Federal Government but warns that more funds are urgently needed.

“JDRF and the 140,000 Australians with type 1 diabetes are grateful for the Prime Minister’s funding support for the Clinical Trial Network. This is a strong and positive first step towards the establishment of this essential public health tool.”

“JDRF has a strong history of partnership with the Australian Government, however the $30 million Islet Transplantation Program that has been funded by the Department for Health and Ageing since 2006 will end in 2011 and we are looking to our Federal representatives to maintain the current level of investment in type 1 diabetes research and provide further support,” said Mike Wilson.

The Australian Government’s funding of $5 million will be provided as a one-off payment in 2009-10. JDRF Australia has also pledged to raise a further $5 million towards the $40 million required for this world-class research initiative.

Photo of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, www.247studios.com.au.

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.

Supported by a crowd of family members, total numbers at Kids in the House will hit 300. They are visiting Canberra as representatives of the 140,000 children and adults in Australia with type 1 diabetes, and the tens of thousands more who care for them.

The Youth Ambassadors will personally meet with nearly 100 MPs to explain why they desperately need government funding for a Clinical Trials Network, which would improve Australian patients’ access to the latest science and speed up the process of curing the serious disease they will otherwise have for life.

JDRF CEO Mike Wilson said it was critical for MPs to understand the serious health implications of type 1 diabetes and the need for continued support of Australian research.

“Australian patients deserve access to the best science, and we should take every opportunity to be the ‘clever country’.”

“The Clinical Trials Network will turn the best science into benefits for patients, by helping to translate the best of Australian research into improved clinical outcomes and attracting international trials and investment to Australia.”

“Investment in the Clinical Trials Network would be a continuation of existing research support, and JDRF will leverage this funding with help from local philanthropists.”

“We know that public investment in research delivers returns, so support of the Clinical Trials Network is a step toward reducing one of the heaviest burdens on Australia’s health system – diabetes.”

“On top of this, the human impact of a cure is incalculable.”

“Australia has one of the highest rates of type 1 diabetes in the world and the rate of new cases in children in this country is rising by 3% every year. This situation is urgent.”

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Show your support for The Clinical Trials Network by signing our petition below. We will give the signatures to the Prime Minister at the Kids in the House event. Send this page to your friends, family and collegues now as it will be given to the Prime Minister on Thursday 17th March.

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V8 Supercar driver Jack Perkins, who has type 1 diabetes, launched the World’s Biggest Fingerprick. With MPs and supporters taking part, more than 170 people joined together to prick their finger and share a moment of life with type 1 diabetes on the steps of Parliament House.

Fingerpricks are an essential part of the painful daily routine that keeps people with type 1 diabetes alive.

Children and adults with type 1 diabetes, who number 30,000 in Victoria, need to check their blood glucose levels 4-6 times a day on average. This enables them to calculate their insulin dose, and when this complex juggling act works properly, it helps to reduce the risk of long term complications like blindness, stroke and kidney disease.

JDRF CEO Mike Wilson spoke at the event. “Victoria is a recognised centre of excellence for medical research and JDRF supports more than 20 projects in this state, which represents around 100 researchers. These dedicated scientists have recently broken new ground and there are now more therapies in human clinical trials than ever before.”

“As an autoimmune disease, type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by a complex mixture of genetic and environmental factors – but not by an unhealthy diet or obesity. A cure for type 1 diabetes is needed urgently as the rate of new cases in children in this country is rising by 3% every year.”

Jack Perkins said “It was good to help out JDRF and show Members of Parliament and others what it’s like to do a finger prick,”

“As a JDRF Youth Ambassador I get to meet some great people and do some very different things. This event was all about showing what people with type 1 diabetes have to do at least six times a day for every day of their life.”

The Kids in the House also heard from National Health and Medical Research Council CEO Professor Warwick Anderson AM, who confirmed that type 1 diabetes is an important area of research for the federal government, with $157.4 million invested since 2000.