Showcase invitation: Action on Prediabetes, Diabetes & Severe Obesity

This in-person and virtual annual research showcase hosted by the Diabetes and Obesity Clinical Academic Group (DO-CAG) will celebrate our achievements to date and award $10,000 in funding through a pitch competition to supply projects related to implementation of new models of care for prediabetes and severe obesity. Please join us to discuss new prevention strategies, improved access to care, and meaningful health outcomes for those living with these conditions. Everyone is welcome! Early career mid-researchers and/or clinician researchers can apply directly to the pitch competition here no later than 11:59pm on Wednesday 14 October 2026 (newly extended due date): DO-CAG 2026 EMCR and Clinician Researcher Pitch-application-form.docx Please submit this completed application attached with your abstract in a word document with the title Surname_Firstname.docx to [email protected] Projects MUST be translational research relevant to models of care in prediabetes and/or severe obesity. Abstracts must include an explanation of the rationale, aims, methods and results/expected outcomes in a strict word count limit of 300 words. A list of references, figures or tables relevant to your research proposal may be appended to the application form (maximum 2 pages). These attachments will not be included in word count limits. Ideally the 2 x successful applicants will be spread from each of the 5 major Sydney health services including Sydney LHD, Northern LHD, Nepean and Blue Mountains LHD, Western LHD and Children’s at Westmead. Funds are to be used by the end of December 2027. The 6 best abstracts will be asked to present their work (10-minute oral presentation and 5 minutes of questions) at the DO-CAG Annual Showcase on Thursday 12 November 2026 leading up to World Diabetes Day at Kerry Packer Auditorium at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital between 5:30-8:30pm. All presentations will be scored by a judging panel, and two winners will be awarded $5,000 each. If successful, this prize money must be used to directly support your research program. This may include any reasonable research-related expenditure, including salaries, consumables, and research related travel, such as national or international conferences. Conference registration is an allowable expense if there is an open and transparent process for awarding the funds in this way. The conference must have a clear link with research translation. Items that the prize money cannot be used for are websites, publication fees/costs, professional memberships/subscriptions, airfares and indirect research costs. TIME ACTIVITY SPEAKER(S) 520pm Arrival and registration 530pm Welcome and Overview of the SHP Diabetes and Obesity Clinical Academic Group (DO-CAG) Prof Stephen Twigg and Dr Kathryn Williams 540pm Remarks from the DO-CAG Consumer Advisory Group Chair Prof Tim Gill 550pm Official launch of www.prediabetes.com.au Dr Kate Meads 600pm Pitch Competition for 2 x $5K prizes: 6 x 15-minute presentations from early & mid-career researchers and clinician researchers Speakers TBC by October 2026 730pm Panel Discussion: Surviving and Thriving in Clinical Research (Panellists: Prof Sarah Glastras, Prof Maria Craig, Dr Gideon Meyerowitz, Dr Linda Wu) Dr Ted Wu 800pm Summary, prize announcements and closing Dr Kathryn Williams 810pm Canapes & refreshments MS Teams remote link to follow if register virtually. The event will be pre-recorded. The best parking for and transport to Kerry Packer Auditorium is: Hospital Map, Transport and Parking | Sydney Local Health District #CheckPreventThrive #PrediabetesAwareness #RiskTestAction #GetHealthyNSW #2kgchallenge #DiabetesResearch #ObesityResearch #HealthOutcomes #SydneyHealthPartners #Networking #Collaboration