Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute

13/10/2026

Could a specifically formulated milk drink help predict your risk of type 2 diabetes or heart disease? 🥛

It sounds simple, but it's serious science. The REFINE study is investigating new ways to identify people at risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes — before either develops. If you consider yourself healthy but have risk factors, this study is designed for you.

You may be suitable if you're aged 35–75 with normal blood sugar and no diagnosis of diabetes or heart disease, plus at least one risk factor — such as high blood pressure or cholesterol (or medication for either), a parent with type 2 diabetes or heart disease, prior gestational diabetes, or a BMI of 25 or above. Participation involves four visits to the Baker Institute in Melbourne (~12 hours total), with detailed health assessments including a body composition scan.

Learn more and apply: https://baker.edu.au/research/clinical-trials/refine-study?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=clinical_trials&utm_content=refine

06/10/2026

Type 2 diabetes with kidney damage? A once-daily tablet might help slow it — and you can help us find out. 💛

Diabetes can lead to a gradual loss of kidney function, and the FAME 2 Kidney trial is testing whether a once-daily blood fat-lowering tablet (fenofibrate) can slow the progression of kidney disease in adults with type 2 diabetes. The Baker Institute is one of 7 sites across Australia taking part, alongside sites in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Canberra.

You may be eligible if you're over 18 with type 2 diabetes and moderate kidney damage. This is a longer-term commitment — around 3½ years with a minimum of 11 clinic visits — but visits are ideally timed with your regular diabetes appointments, and your kidney health is closely monitored throughout.

Learn more and enquire: https://baker.edu.au/research/clinical-trials/fame2kidney?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=clinical_trials&utm_content=fame2kidney

05/10/2026

One of the most ambitious plans to harness cardiovascular disease data globally and accelerate research and clinical translation has just been launched in Australia.

The Australian Cardiovascular Disease Data Commons is a cloud-based research platform built to accelerate the discovery of new risk markers for heart attack and stroke.

▶️https://baker.edu.au/news/ambitious-cvd-plan

University of Sydney The University of Melbourne Heart Foundation Mark Butler MP

The Australian Cardiovascular Disease Data Commons (ACDC) is an ambitious plan to harness cardiovascular disease data globally and accelerate research and clinical translation.

03/10/2026

🎉 Huge congrats to PhD students Della Wang and Beryl Lin, who scored internships at Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen! ✈️🇩🇰

From Melbourne to Copenhagen, Della and Beryl got to dive into exciting diabetes research alongside some of the world's leading researchers in the field.

Want to know more about our work with the world-class Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen? Check it out here 👉 https://baker.edu.au/work-with-us/steno-diabetes-center-copenhagen

01/10/2026

🌏 We’re empowering young people to change the future of a global diabetes epidemic.

India carries the second-highest diabetes burden in the world, with cardiovascular disease an equally urgent crisis. 💙

Through the SHILLONG Project, we’re partnering with Christian Medical College Vellore and Dr H Gordon Roberts Hospital to reach over 1,300 young people across 40 tribal villages in India’s remote northeast — communities facing rising inactivity, unhealthy diets and lifestyle-driven disease risk.

Kai Wallens from our team has been in the Shillong villages listening, learning and co-designing solutions with the community — helping young people build habits that could drastically cut their lifelong risk of heart disease and diabetes.

There’s now growing interest in expanding this model across more regions of India.

Thanks to Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council for funding the SHILLONG Project through the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases.

Read more in our 2025 Impact Report: https://baker.edu.au/about/impact-reports

29/09/2026

This World Heart Day, help us bring expert cardiac care to every corner of Australia. ❤️🤖

For Australians in rural and remote areas, accessing a heart ultrasound can mean hours of travel. Our EAGER study is testing new robotic ultrasound technology that allows sonographers to perform heart scans from a distance — innovation that could transform how cardiac care reaches the people who need it, wherever they live.

You may be able to participate if you're aged 18 or over, have heart valve disease or have had a heart attack, and can visit our Prahran clinic for one hour. One hour of your time, in a safe clinical environment, could help reshape cardiac care across the country.

Learn more and enquire: https://baker.edu.au/research/clinical-trials/eager-study?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=clinical_trials&utm_content=eager

29/09/2026

Giving Day ends at midnight.

There is still time to make your donation go twice* as far for research, clinical trials and education focused on women’s heart health. Women have waited long enough.

Please donate now and help the Baker Institute move lifesaving discoveries forward.

https://gobig.baker.edu.au?utm_content=14&utm_source=FBO

* All online donations will be matched up to $30,000 of funds raised

29/09/2026

Today is World Heart Day and the Baker Institute’s Giving Day.

Until midnight, every donation will be doubled* to help revolutionise women’s heart health.

Back female-led teams advancing research, clinical trials and education so more women are heard, included and treated with evidence built for them.

Join us today and go BIG!

https://gobig.baker.edu.au?utm_content=12&utm_source=FBO

* All online donations will be matched up to $30,000 of funds raised

28/09/2026

Tomorrow is World Heart Day, which is also our Giving Day!

Thanks to generous matching supporters, every Giving Day donation will be matched* dollar-for-dollar, up to the confirmed campaign total.

That means $40 becomes $80, $50 becomes $100 and $150 becomes $300. Give before midnight on 29 September to double your impact.

Get ready to go BIG tomorrow!
https://gobig.baker.edu.au?utm_content=11&utm_source=FBO

* All online donations will be matched up to $30,000 of funds raised

27/09/2026

Women have waited long enough for research that reflects their bodies, symptoms and lives.

In 48 hours, Giving Day begins.

For one day, every donation will be doubled* to help accelerate gender-specific research, inclusive clinical trials and practical heart health education.

Get ready to go BIG for women's heart health!

https://gobig.baker.edu.au?utm_content=10&utm_source=FBO

* All online donations will be matched up to $30,000 of funds raised