J&J Innovation facilitates collaboration with academia on novel project

The Australian National University (ANU) has announced a new research project with Janssen Research & Development, LLC, aimed at improving health outcomes in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).

The collaboration was facilitated by Johnson & Johnson Innovation.

The project will focus on the development of new methods for measuring and monitoring disease activity. 

Kathy Connell, Senior Director, New Ventures Australia & New Zealand, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, said “Australia’s track record in healthcare innovation is globally recognised. Despite the financial impact and reduced opportunity for international engagement for Australian academic institutions as a result of COVID-19, now, more than ever it’s essential that collaborations between industry and academia continue to thrive to ensure Australia’s sovereign life science capability and international engagement is maintained and expanded.”

Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease that attacks the body’s ability to process sugar by destroying insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. 

Researchers from ANU will test new methods of monitoring this damage, as part of the wider effort to develop preventive measures and therapies.

Together with Janssen scientists, researchers from ANU aim to identify individuals at risk of T1D and track markers and influences in childhood to identify the opportunity and means to intervene early in the course of disease.

“The goal of this initiative is to discover avenues for interception that will enable a brighter future for individuals at risk of developing symptomatic T1D,” said Charmaine Simeonovic, Associate Professor and Chief Investigator.

“Working together with Janssen offers a fantastic opportunity for us to improve the monitoring of early stages of Type 1 diabetes disease development, so that new therapies can be better used to intervene and prevent diabetes onset.”

Improvement of health monitoring and diagnosis in Type 1 Diabetes is a priority area for ANU, as well as a focus of investment through the Our Health in Our Hands initiative and inaugural ANU Grand Challenges Scheme.

This research project will also assist partnerships held with ACT Health and clinical collaborators worldwide.  

This project builds on work supported by the JDRF Australian Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Research Network and its mission to creating a world without Type 1 Diabetes.