Fair MRFF Investment in Diabetes Research - Australian Diabetes Society

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Email Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, and Health Minister Mark Butler now to ensure fair MRFF investment in diabetes research for all Australians.

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Dear Minister / Treasurer / Parliamentarian,

I am writing to ask the Australian Government to address the inequity in diabetes research funding by committing dedicated Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) investment for diabetes research.

Diabetes is one of Australia’s largest chronic health challenges, causing major complications, reducing quality of life and costing the nation more than $17.6 billion annually. Yet the National Diabetes Research Strategy reports a 51% decline in federal diabetes research funding over the past decade, with per capita funding down by 63%, despite increasing prevalence.

This is unfair to people living with diabetes. They deserve the same level of commitment to better treatments, prevention, care and cures as people living with other major chronic diseases.

The National Diabetes Research Strategy (2026–2035), developed with broad stakeholder support, provides a clear roadmap and proposes a $270 million MRFF Diabetes Health Mission over 10 years. This would strengthen the research workforce, support innovation, improve equity, expand infrastructure and accelerate translation into better health outcomes.

I also acknowledge broader calls for stronger medical research investment, including advocacy highlighted through AAMRI and public comments from Dr Monique Ryan MP supporting greater release of MRFF funding. AAMRI’s public campaign materials call on Canberra to fully fund the MRFF.

I urge the Government to commit fair and dedicated MRFF funding for diabetes research and to act on the National Diabetes Research Strategy. People living with diabetes should not continue to face inequity in research investment and opportunity.