ACADI and Diabetes Victoria announce 10-year partnership and funding commitment
Diabetes Victoria and the Australian Centre for Accelerating Diabetes Innovations (ACADI) headquartered at the University of Melbourne have together announced a 10-year funding commitment to support ACADI’s ongoing impactful diabetes research.
Front: Professor David O’Neal, Dr Sue Alberti AC, (Chair, ACADI) Richard Loveridge, Professor Sarath Ranganathan, Professor Elif Ekinci (ACADI Director). Back: Professor Grant Morahan, Glen Noonan CEO of Diabetes Victoria.
ACADI has already made significant advancements in the field and this partnership will ensure its ongoing impact. The new partnership reflects a shared vision to improve the lives of people impacted by diabetes, which is Australia’s fastest-growing chronic condition.
Around 90 Victorians are among the 300 Australians diagnosed with diabetes every day. That’s one Australian diagnosed every five minutes.
The landmark 10-year collaboration ensures ACADI’s continued leadership in driving impactful, cutting-edge diabetes research across Australia.
“We have seen a strong commitment from ACADI to engage the community in diabetes research,” Diabetes Victoria CEO Glen Noonan said.
“Together we will ensure lived experience is at the centre of diabetes research, with more effective and sustainable solutions.
“This will ultimately improve health outcomes and empower people to play an active role in their own wellbeing.”
The partnership will accelerate the translation of research into impactful clinical practice.
“We want research to drive long-term improvements in diabetes prevention, treatment and management,” Mr Noonan said.
“The ACADI model, which embeds skillsets such as health economics and implementation science, is vital to achieving this.”
This exciting new chapter in diabetes research will have a profound and lasting impact on improving the lives of people living with diabetes.
Professor Elif Ekinci, director of ACADI and Head of Department of Medicine at the University of Melbourne, said ACADI is a unique, national virtual centre that brings together over 70 partners which includes researchers, advocacy groups, health services and industry partners.
“The vision for ACADI has always been about addressing inequality when it comes to diabetes healthcare, and how we can better serve Australians living with diabetes and provide them with equal access to products, innovations and clinical trials, regardless of their postcode,” Professor Ekinci said.
“ACADI and Diabetes Victoria, and our many national partners, are united in our goal to improve the quality of life and outcomes for all Australians living with diabetes.
“We know we are strongest together and this partnership will help propel us forward into the next phase of important research and advocacy in this field.”
ACADI was established through MRFF funding from the Australian Government’s Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) program, delivered by MTPConnect. The Centre is also seeking federal and state government support to continue its research and clinical trials.
Glen Noonan, Diabetes Victoria CEO:
ACADI has an impressive history and breadth of projects already underway and its commitment to translational research is ground-breaking.
Diabetes Victoria has a long history of partnering to establish and fund research centres, such as the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes (ACBRD). We already have strong alignment and a strong working relationship with ACADI.
When you consider what we’ve achieved together in the last three years, it’s exciting to imagine what’s possible in the next 10 years.
Professor Elif Ekinci, Director of ACADI:
Incorporating the voices and experiences of Australians living with diabetes and its complications is at the forefront of our research.
Researchers will have direct access to insights from individuals with diabetes, ensuring that research is grounded in real-world experiences and needs.
Images: David Hannah Photography