Founded by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has a single goal - accelerating research progress to cure diabetes and its complications. All funds raised in Australia go towards supporting the best and most promising Australian research.

JDRF is registered to fundraise for charitable purposes, where required, in all Australian states and territories. Currently, for every dollar raised for research in Australia, up to three additional dollars are allocated by the international body of JDRFI.

Our research management process is well respected internationally. We continuously monitor the global diabetes research landscape, identify gaps in promising areas of research, and make research investments strategically to ensure that resources are directed to research with a likely impact on finding a cure.

Through our unique scientific peer review and lay review assessment process, JDRF funds the most innovative, cutting-edge relevant research worldwide. Our funding and leadership are associated with most of the scientific breakthroughs in type 1 research, including islet cell transplantation and stem cell research. We pioneered the creation of multidisciplinary programs that bring together researchers from many institutions and disciplines such as molecular biology and genetics, immunology, transplantation, vascular biology, and stem cells - collaboration which ensures that progress from research is accelerated as quickly as possible.

In pursuit of a cure, JDRF has three research goals:

1. Restoring normal blood glucose levels
2. Preventing and reversing complications
3. Preventing type 1 diabetes

In Australia we currently fund 29 separate research projects at research institutions and universities around the country. Funded researchers are reviewed annually to ensure their research programs are meeting specified objectives.

Unlike other charities, JDRF has only one form of beneficiary, namely research. The incorrect allocation of funds raised for one beneficiary to another beneficiary is therefore not possible.

The Board of Directors of JDRF consists primarily of individuals with a direct connection with diabetes (usually parent of a child with diabetes). As such, the board members have vested interest in ensuring all funds raised are correctly allocated to medical research, hence speeding up the search for a cure for their loved ones.

Finally, the Board of JDRF has adopted a high level of corporate governance to ensure the Foundation is compliant, responsibly managed and directed in its endeavours to raise funds for research. In line with this commitment to good corporate governance, adequate internal controls have been established to ensure the day-to-day financial resources of the Foundation are responsibly managed with board oversight.

For further information:

Karolyn Andrews, Media & PR Manager, JDRF
Ph. 02 9966 0400 (x203) or 0403 787 077 | email: kandrews@jdrf.org.au