Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute

06/01/2026

We're celebrating four exciting new research projects funded by National Health Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grants. These grants that are worth more than $5 million will enable us to pursue bold ideas that could transform how we prevent and treat cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

⭐ Professor Judy de Haan will develop new techniques to improve heart function for people with diabetes after a heart attack.

⭐ Dr Patrick Lelliott will investigate plastic pollution's impact on heart health.

⭐ Dr Jun Okabe will aim to stop long-term blood vessel damage in people with diabetes

⭐ And Professor Brian Oldenburg will develop innovative digital platforms connecting people to life-changing support.

Huge congrats to all!

https://baker.edu.au/news/institute-news/baker-institute-secures-$5m

03/01/2026

Nicholas Lyall is sharing his story to help others understand the need to protect your heart during cancer treatment.

Nick's journey started five years ago when his daughter was a toddler and he had to spend eight months in treatment for leukaemia. Nick endured multiple rounds of chemotherapy before needing radiotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. All this treatment cured Nick but left him struggling to even walk ten metres.

He got involved in our study to determine if staying active through an exercise program could help rebuild his fitness and protect his heart from damage.

Now Nick's cancer-free and says he’s fitter than ever and can train at the gym, play footy, and swim with his daughter.

02/01/2026

Erin Boyle has spent over 20 years championing diabetes research and clinical trials, and has type 1 diabetes herself. Erin says, “Being involved in research gives me hope. I see firsthand the innovations that could improve my own future and the lives of others with diabetes.

When I started managing my diabetes at 14, I used urine tests and syringes. Now I use automated insulin delivery with Continuous Glucose Monitors — it’s been a remarkable transformation in accuracy, safety, and freedom.” Recently, Erin has been involved in cutting-edge research for an artificial pancreas.

Institute news

01/01/2026

As we make our New Year's resolutions, Daryl Mitchell shares 'what it’s really like to live with T1D — the challenges, the resilience, and the moments I never could have planned for. I’m so grateful for the chance to tell my story, and I hope it helps others feel seen, supported, and inspired.'

Daryl developed type 1 diabetes at the age of 49. Our research shows the face of type 1 diabetes is changing and the number of older adults with type 1 diabetes is growing.

🎥 Check out Daryl’s story brought to you with the help from our friends at The Content Engine.

29/12/2025

We look at obesity as being a problem that is caused by our given set of genetics, responding to the world we live in today. So, we're all born with a certain set of genes, and some people are at higher risk for obesity in our current way of life because of the genes they inherited.

Our message to anyone who's struggling with obesity is that we're making major inroads into trying to understand how these genes are impacting you. This research has enabled us to develop what could be a new treatment in the future.

When used together with exercise and a healthy diet, this genetic knowledge could more comprehensively address obesity for longer term health benefits.

26/12/2025

In 2025, we launched our five-year strategic plan. It's a bold, ambitious plan to transform the health landscape.

To create a heathier future🌏for us all, it outlines how we will:

⭐champion global collaboration
⭐embrace cutting-edge technology
⭐elevate community engagement.

You can read more here

This plan comes at an exciting time for us. For nearly a century, the Baker Institute has led the change in innovation, changing lives along the way.

23/12/2025

Chris has survived two heart attacks. This Christmas, he’s holding his family close and cherishing every moment.

Your support can help fund research to rebuild hearts and give more people more Christmases with those they love.

Give people more time.

https://give.baker.edu.au/?utm_source=FBO&utm_content=C16

23/12/2025

When we support people to address obesity, we reduce the risks for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. As Professor Brian Drew says, we're in the process of developing a new drug that works differently to current anti-obesity medications, which targets another pathway that has similar impacts on obesity.

In future, this could be an alternative option that people could take for sustained weight loss benefit. Or, if they're on a certain drug that is not working so well, or it's causing side effects, we could provide an alternative therapy that helps people kickstart a change in lifestyle and reduce their disease risk now and for many years down the track.

22/12/2025

Help buy people like Chris more time by supporting our groundbreaking research into heart damage regeneration.

It's not too late to give more people, more time.

Please donate today 👉 https://give.baker.edu.au/?utm_source=FBO&utm_content=C15

21/12/2025

Help buy people like Mary-Anne more time with loved ones by supporting our groundbreaking research into heart damage regeneration.

Please donate today 👉 https://give.baker.edu.au/?utm_source=FBO&utm_content=C14

19/12/2025

“For the first time, we can see a future where scar tissue becomes muscle again. We’re closer than ever — we just need the time to finish it.” – A/Prof Alex Pinto

Breakthroughs don’t happen overnight. They happen through thousands of hours in the lab — and support from people who believe in saving lives.

Your Christmas gift gives researchers the time they need to turn discovery into treatment.

Be part of the breakthrough → https://give.baker.edu.au/?utm_source=FBO&utm_content=C13

16/12/2025

Chris shouldn’t need five stents to enjoy another Christmas with his family, but today, that’s his reality 💔🎄

Our researchers and scientists dedicate their careers to understanding heart disease and improving lives, but they can’t do it alone.

When you support the Baker Institute, you’re helping drive the breakthroughs that give people like Chris more moments with the people they love.

Help buy them more time 👉 donate today: https://give.baker.edu.au/?utm_source=FBO&utm_content=C12