JDRF Australia has funded a first-of-its-kind four-year collaboration, aimed at increasing the number of clinical trials available to Australians and New Zealanders with type 1 diabetes – boosting the potential for new treatments.

The Australasian Type 1 Diabetes Immunotherapy Collaborative (ATIC) is be led by Professor Tom Kay (St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research) and Associate Professor John Wentworth (Royal Melbourne Hospital) with co-investigators and clinical trial sites across Australia and New Zealand.

JDRF Australia Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Dorota Pawlak, said: “We’re very excited to be funding this Collaborative that will boost the capacity for clinical trials in Australia. This will be a step towards the vision for people at all stages of type 1 diabetes to have access to transformative therapies and contemporary healthcare options.”

Research has provided a clearer understanding of how the body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing beta cells – the ultimate cause of type 1 diabetes. Drugs trialled under the umbrella of the new collaborative will aim to lessen the immune system’s attack on beta cells, stemming the loss of insulin production and thus decreasing the reliance on replacement insulin.

“The collaborative will enable, for the first time, key researchers and clinicians in type 1 diabetes to come together under a single banner, with the goal of enabling more clinical trials for patients and building long-term capacity in the field,” Tom said.

“It’s a very exciting time for patients, clinicians and researchers. With the science backing us and the support of JDRF Australia, we will find new treatments for people with type 1 diabetes.”

Click here to view our current trials.