Media Release

 

July 20, 2011

 

Clinicians share in over $3,000,000 of research funding

 

John Hunter Children’s Hospital paediatric endocrinologists will share in over $3,000,000 of research funding awarded to three grants from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Vice Chairperson of the Australian Paediatric Endocrine Group Diabetes Subcommittee and paediatric endocrinologist at John Hunter Children’s Hospital Dr Bruce King said that being included in these grants is recognition of the current and previous research done by the Children’s Hospital’s clinicians.

“These research projects address issues that are very important to every person with diabetes“, Dr King said.

“John Hunter Children’s Hospital Diabetes Unit has a strong record in local, national and international diabetes research. We know that through researching new methods of diabetes treatment we will significantly help the 500 children with type 1 diabetes cared for by the unit,” he said.

Title of Grant: Hypoglycemia prevention with predictive suspension of insulin delivery
Grant value: $1,638,726

Insulin pumps are able to talk to continuous glucose sensors. The pumps can respond to the glucose level and stop insulin delivery if there is a risk of hypoglycemia. Currently it is unknown if this is effective at stopping hypoglycemia. This study will determine if this technology can prevent severe hypoglycemia from occurring. Severe hypoglycemia can result in seizures or unconsciousness, preventing them would be a major advancement in managing diabetes.

Title of Grant: Adolescent diabetes intervention trial – Australia
Grant value: $1,061,313

Renal failure is a common complication of diabetes. There are medications that can change the way diabetes affects the kidney by reducing pressures in the kidney. Currently it is unknown if these medications delay or stop the development of renal failure. Many young adults with diabetes develop renal failure; this study will determine if we can prevent this complication.

Title of Grant: The Australian Paediatric Endocrine Group Clinical Trials
Grant value: $910,463

Members of The Australian Paediatric Endocrine Group Clinical Network will establish a database that will allow clinicians to know what is happening with all children with diabetes in Australia. This will allow clinicians to make recommendations to governments, which will help them plan to deliver services to these children. Also, the database will improve clinicians’ ability to do studies. Currently it is difficult to undertake studies aimed at curing diabetes in the early stages because it is hard to identify large groups of newly diagnosed children. This database will allow the 1000 children diagnosed with diabetes in Australia to be involved in these studies.

 

Media inquiries:

Lucas Coleman - 02 49213844, 0407 895 101 (ref HNE-2587)