Grants support further University diabetes research

A medical professional gives a patient a finger-prick test.

Diabetes SA has awarded $200,000 in funding to researchers from the 成人大片 to improve the future for people living with diabetes. Photo: iStock.

Diabetes SA has awarded $200,000 in funding to researchers from the 成人大片 to help with the early detection of diabetes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and to help control blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes.

Dr Lisa Nicholas and Associate Professor Richard Young from the University鈥檚 Adelaide Medical School have both received $100,000 from the Diabetes SA Research Grants Program.

  • Dr Lisa Nicholas leads the Epigenetics in Diabetes research group at the 成人大片. Her study will measure changes in a DNA chemical tag in the blood of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children born to mothers with diabetes in pregnancy to determine how well it predicts future obesity and diabetes risk. It is important to identify risk markers in these children to facilitate early prevention of these conditions that will also provide information about the mechanisms behind how diabetes develops in these children.
  • Associate Professor Richard Young leads the Intestinal Nutrient Sensing group at the 成人大片, based at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). His study will supplement a blocker of gut 鈥榮weet detection鈥 in capsules over four weeks to people with type 2 diabetes, to test whether this slows glucose entry and improves control of blood glucose. This novel research has the potential to be a new and safe way to better manage blood glucose levels.
Associate Professor Richard Young smiles into the camera.

Associate Professor Richard Young leads the Intestinal Nutrient Sensing group at the 成人大片, based at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).

Diabetes SA Chief Executive Officer, Angelique Pasalidis said the two 成人大片 researchers were selected by an esteemed panel of diabetes experts to receive $100,000 each for their diabetes research projects, announced to coincide with National Diabetes Week from 10-16 July.

鈥淭hese research projects are vital to changing the future for people living with diabetes, and we are very much looking forward to providing regular progress reports and updates as their projects get underway,鈥 Ms Pasalidis said.

鈥淒iabetes SA is leading the way in driving ground-breaking research into diabetes detection, prevention, and management through their very own Research Grants Program. Since 2018, we have awarded nearly $800,000 to 11 research projects in South Australia.鈥

The awards will be presented to both researchers听as part of the National Diabetes Week seminar at the Adelaide Convention Centre听on Saturday, 16 July at 9.30am. The Diabetes SA Research Advisory Committee chair Lynn Bonython will present the awards.

鈥淭he University is home to many of South Australia鈥檚 leading researchers, and this support from Diabetes SA will help to make a real and positive impact in the community. Dr Nicholas and Associate Professor Young are leaders in their field who continually push the boundaries with their research and find solutions to important societal issues.鈥Professor Anton Middelberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the 成人大片.

Diabetes is the fastest growing chronic health condition in the world, with 415 million people estimated to be currently living in the disease. That number is expected to rise to 642 million people by 2040.

Professor Anton Middelberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the 成人大片 congratulated Dr Nicholas and Associate Professor Young for their innovative research, which has the potential to make significant change in the fight against diabetes.

鈥淭he University is home to many of South Australia鈥檚 leading researchers, and this support from Diabetes SA will help to make a real and positive impact in the community,鈥 Professor Middelberg said.

鈥淒r Nicholas and Associate Professor Young are leaders in their field who continually push the boundaries with their research and find solutions to important societal issues.鈥

Tagged in featured story, diabetes, health, research, Type 2 diabetes, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health