What is the T1DCRN?
The T1DCRN is a national platform that forms a critical part of Breakthrough T1D’s global research portfolio and ensures Australians have access to the latest clinical trials and therapies.
Established in 2010, the T1DCRN has received over 16 years of support from the Australian Government and has put Australia on the map as a leader in T1D research. It operates with the T1D community at its core and has driven countless breakthroughs in its time, with the goal of moving us towards a world without T1D as quickly as possible.
What has the T1DCRN achieved so far?
The T1DCRN has delivered over a decade of world-class T1D research through connecting scientific experts, accelerating therapeutic and technological advancements, and building the infrastructure for T1D trials to happen locally.
Breakthroughs such as delivering the world-first clinical trial of baricitinib (which showed this existing drug could suppress the progression of T1D) and securing landmark access to continuous glucose monitors, would not have been possible without the T1DCRN.
Other milestone accomplishments include driving breakthroughs in islet transplantation to give people with T1D the ability to make insulin again, and launching pioneering screening programs to detect the early signs of T1D, with the potential to transform T1D diagnoses.
Our Impact Report (developed when we were known as JDRF) delves into more detail about 10 key achievements from the first decade of the T1DCRN.
A decade of impact
Discover the impact the first 10 years of the T1DCRN for people affected by T1D in Australia in our 2023 Impact Report, which outlines key achievements of the network.
Delivering real-world benefits
Thanks to the latest investment from the Australian Government, the next phase of the T1DCRN is building upon key areas of success to tackle remaining challenges in T1D research and achieve meaningful change for people living with T1D in Australia.
Dr Dorota Pawlak, Director of the T1DCRN, said:
Now, the T1DCRN will focus on strengthening Australia’s research ecosystem while moving promising ideas further along the research and development pipeline. This means supporting innovative science, expanding opportunities for clinical trials, and creating the infrastructure needed to bring emerging therapies and technologies closer to real-world use.
“Equally important is ensuring our work remains connected to the broader T1D community. By working closely with people living with T1D, healthcare professionals, policymakers and international partners, we will ensure that research priorities reflect real needs and that breakthroughs reach those who stand to benefit from them.”
Our evidence-based research strategy for the continuation of the T1DCRN is centred on three priorities: Prevention, Precision and Progress, which you can learn about in the following pages.
The 2024-2030 research strategy
Our 2024-2030 research strategy expands upon how the next phase of the T1DCRN will accelerate progress towards a future where T1D can be prevented, precisely managed and ultimately cured.
How is the T1DCRN funded?
The T1DCRN was established in 2010 by Breakthrough T1D through a $5 million grant from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, and has since received 3 additional federal funding injections. The Australian Government entrusts Breakthrough T1D to leverage additional funding streams to boost the investment total, build the research ecosystem, and facilitate research and advocacy programs.
