Garvan diabetes research has been recognised by the Diabetes Australia Research Trust, which announced that several Garvan scientists would be receiving significant research support over the coming two years.

Dr James Cantley was awarded the major Viertel Postdoctoral Fellowship in Diabetes, $300,000 over a two-year period, sponsored by the Viertel Charitable Foundation, which is managed by ANZ Trustees. He will be researching an enzyme in beta cells (insulin-producing cells of the pancreas) that appears to regulate whether fats are stored or burned in those cells.

Dr Jenny Gunton was awarded the annual Underworks Millenium Grant for Type 2 diabetes research, $150,000 over two years. She will be investigating the role of Vitamin D in beta cell function: whether or not Vitamin D helps beta cells secrete insulin properly, and whether or not lack of Vitamin D increases a person’s chances of getting diabetes.

In addition to these two prestigious awards, the Trust awarded three project grants to Garvan researchers. One of those also went to Dr Gunton, one to Dr Carsten Schmitz-Peiffer, and one to Professor David James.