Summary
The National Diabetes Research Strategy (2026–2035) presents a unified national vision to transform Australia’s response to diabetes through a comprehensive forward-looking research and innovation agenda. It is grounded in the urgent need to reduce the growing burden of diabetes on individuals, families, communities, healthcare systems and the national economy. At the beginning of every life-changing breakthrough lies discovery science – the pursuit of new knowledge through data-driven, pre-clinical and translational research – the foundation for breakthrough innovations that change lives. Yet today, Australia faces an alarming decline in funding for diabetes. Our next generation research workforce stands at a critical tipping point. Without immediate action, Australia risks forfeiting its global leadership in diabetes health innovation.
Guided by the priorities of the Australian National Diabetes Strategy (2021-2030) and informed by the 2024 Parliamentary Inquiry into Diabetes, this strategy sets bold, long-term goals to address the complexity of diabetes in Australia. It emphasises the need to develop precision therapeutic approaches that deliver personalised health care, creating better diagnostics for early detection, improving treatment options, reducing complications, achieving greater equity, finding cures and innovating models of care, all of which deliver transformative health and economic benefits for all Australians. Engaging with the lived experience voice in diabetes ensures that care is informed by real-world insights, fostering more personalised, practical, and effective treatment outcomes.
Our goals include establishing a MRFF mission to:
- Grow and sustain a fit-for-purpose, interdisciplinary diabetes research workforce through targeted training and career-long support.
- Implement cutting-edge multidisciplinary technologies to identify the root causes of diabetes and translate these discoveries into therapies developed and tested in Australia.
- Establish National Diabetes Centres of Excellence to integrate core discovery capabilities with clinical research and implementation science, serving as multidisciplinary platforms for innovation, collaboration and impact.
Contributing Organisations: Australian Diabetes Society, Australian Diabetes Educators Association, Breakthrough T1D, Australia and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Diabetes Australia, Diabetes Victoria, Endocrine Society of Australia, Australia and New Zealand Obesity Society, Research Australia and Diabetes Feet Australia.
Document
Download the National Diabetes Research Strategy (2026-2035) (Posted: August 2025)
Feedback
If you would like to provide feedback on the strategy, please send an email to the ADS CEO, A/Prof Sof Andrikopoulos, at: ceo@diabetessociety.com.au