1. 21 April 2016
Countryfamilies needed for biggest type 1 diabetes study
Families living in regional Australia will now be able to participate in the nation’s largeststudy into the causes
of type 1 diabetes in early life.
The study – led by the University of Adelaide's Robinson Research Institute and the Women's and Children's
Hospital, Adelaide – is aimed at solving the mystery as to why the number of type 1 diabetes cases has
doubled over the past20 years.
Pregnant women in regional and rural areas across Australia, whose child has a first-degree relative
(i.e. mother, father or a sibling) with type 1 diabetes, are now being sought for the study. Babies less
than six-months-old are also eligible.
The ENDIA (Environmental Determinants ofIslet Autoimmunity) study is expanding into Australia's regional
areas for the first time, giving more families the opportunity to make a difference to this groundbreaking work.
"Our Regional Participant Program will enable all eligible families – notjust those in the major cities – to
contribute to exciting new research that aims to identify the environmental factors that influence the
developmentoftype 1 diabetes," says ENDIA's Principal Investigator, Professor Jenny Couper from the
University of Adelaide and Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
"In Australia, type 1 diabetes in children is twice as common as it was 20 years ago. We believe the
environmenta child is exposed to in early life holds the key to understanding type 1 diabetes."
Before the launch of its regional program, almosta third of the country’s population were unable to access the
ENDIA study due to their inability to access participating hospitals due to their location.
"Eligible families now have the option to participate in the study from home, or with the help of their local
health care professional," Professor Couper says.
"Involving families from country areas right across Australia is critically important to our findings because we
know there are many differences between regional and urban environments.
"The data and samples provided by rural and regional participants will contribute invaluable information,
helping us to find out what causes type 1 diabetes."
ENDIA's Regional Participant Program will also be available to currentparticipants who are living in regional
areas, enabling them to collectand ship their own samples should they be unable to attend a study visit.
The ENDIA study was funded by the Australian Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Research Network, led by JDRF
Australia, and supported by the Australian Governmentthrough a Special Research Initiative for Type 1
diabetes.
Families interested in the study who live outside of metropolitan Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney,
Melbourne, Geelong or Perth should call (08) 8161 8655. To find out more, visit the website:
www.endia.org.au
MediaContact:
Professor Jennifer Couper, McGregor Reid Professor and Head of Paediatrics
Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide
and Head, Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Women’s and Children’s Hospital
Phone: +61 8 8161 6402, Mobile: +61 (0)406 423 880, jennifer.couper@adelaide.edu.au

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Alexandra Hendry, Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) Study, The University of Adelaide
Phone: +61 8161 8328, Mobile: +61 (0)423 307 156, alexandra.hendry@adelaide.edu.au
CRICOS Provider Number 00123M
Kelly and Ryan Porter and their son Heath – from Berri, South Australia – are the first family to take part in the
ENDIA study Regional Participation Program.
Ryan was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes justlastyear, at 26 years ofage.
"Participating in the ENDIA study through the Regional Participation Program has been straightforward and
easy,” says Kelly.
"With our second child on the way, we are glad to help further knowledge oftype 1 diabetes – notjustfor
people diagnosed butalso their families. Knowledge is power and the more we have the closer we mightbe to
prevention methods."
[photo ofthe Porter family to be attached separately]