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We aim to improve the prediction of diabetes onset and it's complications.

We explore the underlying mechanisms of disease and treatment benefit, and test drugs, devices and models of care, including telehealth, that improve outcomes for people with diabetes.

About the Group

The Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Research Group is interested in the prediction and prevention of diabetes complications and cardiovascular disease and in the use of technology in healthcare.

Led by Professor Alicia Jenkins, the multidisciplinary team was established in 2000 at the University of Melbourne and since 2013 has been based out of the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre at the University of Sydney. The team undertakes clinical (people based) research and laboratory based studies and has an extensive and valued national and international network of collaborators.

The team has a biomarker laboratory with a wide range of clinical, biochemical and molecular tools that can be applied to the above types of studies, and are available for other researchers to use.

Building and learning from the next generation of biomedical researchers is key so the team includes clinical and science trainees from undergraduate to postgraduate level.

Team members serve the profession via membership of review and panels, conference conduct, membership of advisory boards, editorial roles and guideline developing groups. They are available as speakers for community groups and are actively engaged with humanitarian aid organisations.

The team of doctors, scientists, allied health care professionals and health informaticians conducts a complementary range of research including:

  • observational studies, including in Indigenous Australians
  • clinical trials
  • biomarkers (characteristics that can be measured in the person or in a laboratory that describes the state of health or disease)
  • technology studies (including insulin pumps, glucose sensors, electronic decision support and education tools)
  • global health
  • mechanistic studies
  • researching the researchers

Professor Alicia Jenkins

MBBS, MD, FRACP, FRCP



After growing up in rural Victoria, Australia, Alicia graduated from medicine (Uni. of Melbourne) then trained as a physician / endocrinologist in Australia, Ireland and the UK. After completing a research degree in diabetes (MD) she researched in the USA for seven years and returned to Australia in 2000 to clinical, teaching and research practice at the University of Melbourne. In 2013 she became a Professor of Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre / University of Sydney, and she continues diabetes clinics at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne. She has over 36 years clinical experience and 30 years research experience.

Her particular interests are the clinical care of people with Type 1 diabetes, the prediction, prevention and care of diabetes complications, the use of technology (e.g. insulin pumps, glucose sensors and telemedicine) global health and equitable access to diabetes care. Her group has a large biomarker laboratory with skills in clinical, biochemical and molecular assays and related biobanking (sample collection and storage for later testing) and data analyses. With her colleagues she has over 400 publications, cited over 10,000 times and a Scopus H-index of 53 (May. 2020). She is Chief Editor on a major textbook Lipoproteins in Diabetes (Human Press).

Alicia served an 8-year term on the Australian Diabetes Society Council (till 2012) and is currently Co-Director of the Precision Medicine Flagship of the Australian CardioVascular Alliance (ACvA) and on the International Diabetes Federation Western Pacific Region Executive Council where she has lead roles in the Disaster Response Guidelines group and the study of Type 1 diabetes in the Western Pacific Region. Since 2000 she has been on the Board of the diabetes aid organization Insulin For Life and collaborates with the Life For a Child Program. Alicia was awarded the 2019 Australian Diabetes Society Kellion Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to diabetes research and clinical practice in Australia.

Prof Alicia Jenkins. Credit: NHMRC CTC

Our Team

Dr Andrzej Januszewski. Credit: NHMRC CTC

Dr Andrzej Januszewski

Senior Research Fellow

Dr Laima Brazionis. Credit: NHMRC CTC

Dr Laima Brazionis

Chief Investigator CRE

Luke Carroll. Credit: NHMRC CTC

Dr Luke Carroll

Research Fellow

Sharon Atkinson-Briggs

Sharon Atkinson-Briggs

PhD Candidate

Dr Nicola Quinn

Dr Nicola Quinn

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Christopher Ryan. Credit: NHMRC CTC

Christopher Ryan

Telehealth Program Manager

Hilary Richardson

Hilary Richardson

eHealth Software Developer

Marina Zadonskaia. Credit: NHMRC CTC

Marina Zadonskaia

Administrative Assistant

Current Projects

Our clinical, biochemical and molecular biomarker laboratory plays a key role in the following diabetes trials and studies:

FIELD study.

The Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) Trial

The FIELD Trial led by Prof. Anthony Keech, evaluated 9795 adults with Type 2 diabetes taking for an average of 5-years fenofibrate (a blood fat lowering tablet) or placebo (inactive tablet).

T4DM study.

T4DM

A multicentre, Australia-based, Phase IIIb randomised controlled trial of testosterone to prevent Type 2 diabetes in men aged 50-74 years.

REMOVAL international multicentre trial.

Reversing with Metformin Vascular Adverse Lesions (REMOVAL)

A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Medtronic 670G Hybrid Closed Loop pump. Copyright granted by Medtronic Aus.

Hybrid Closed Loop (insulin pump) trial

What is the impact of six months of hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery in adults with Type 1 diabetes?

FAME-1 fenofibrate trials in Type 1 diabetes.

Fenofibrate and Microvascular End-Points in Type 1 diabetes – FAME-1 Eye

Preventing vision loss and other complications in type 1 diabetes.

Sharon Atkinson-Briggs undertaking retinal photos.

New Model of Care for Diabetic Retinopathy in Indigenous Australians

A new model of screening, with Indigenous Health Care workers or diabetes nurse undertaking eye testing, including eye (retinal) photos in general practices settings is being tested, and providing successful.

Australia China Grant from Adobe Stock.

Australia China Grant

Study groups in Australia and in China are comparing results of levels of traditional and novel risk factors for the complications of Type 2 diabetes in very large cohorts.

Type 1 diabetes care in the Western Pacific Region

Type 1 diabetes care in the Western Pacific Region

A survey of the healthcare system for people with Type 1 diabetes in 22 Western Pacific Region countries.

enactt1d logo

ENACTT1D

A network of diabetes specialists (endocrinologists) are conducting an online survey of knowledge, attitudes and experiences of both adults with Type 1 diabetes and their treating clinicians.

Creative take / artwork of fundus photography by team members Chris Ryan and Hilary Richardson.

Centre for Research Excellence in Diabetic Retinopathy in Indigenous Australians

A new model of screening, with Indigenous Health Care workers or diabetes nurse undertaking eye testing, including eye (retinal) photos in general practices settings is being tested, and providing successful.

Finn Diane.

The Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy Study

The largest and by far the most thoroughly characterized patient cohort of patients with type 1 diabetes with or without diabetic nephropathy in the world.

DCCT-EDIC logos.

DCCT-EDIC Trial

Diabetes Control and Complications Trial - Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications and Interventions.

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