Take part in diabetes research

Diabetes research would not be possible without the support of people with diabetes. You can play a vital role by taking part in a research study or trial, or by helping us to decide on our research priorities, on the projects we should fund and on the design of individual studies.

Help us to make research funding and strategy decisions

We work hard to consider the day-to-day experiences and insights of people living with diabetes throughout the research-funding process and when we set research priorities.

You can read more about how we do this in ‘Tell us your views on diabetes research’.

Join our Science and Research Advisory Group

The Diabetes UK Science and Research Advisory Group monitors our current Research Strategy and identifies and prioritises the key areas we support through our Targeted Research Fund.

To register your interest in applying to join the Science and Research Advisory Group, please contact governance@diabetes.org.uk.

Get involved in the Diabetes Research Network

The National Institute for Health Research Diabetes Research Network (NIHR DRN) forms part of the UK Clinical Research Network and carries out clinical research studies.

You can get involved in the DRN’s activities by answering surveys, becoming a ‘Patient Advocate’, signing up for newsletters, and taking part in research studie or clinical trials.

Patients, carers and members of the public can also help to prioritise research, design studies, prepare grant applications, and improve the accessibility of research by working with researchers.

To get involved, contact Martin Lodemore, the DRN Patient and Public Liaison Officer:
m.lodemore@imperial.ac.uk.

Take part in a diabetes research trial

Before new treatments can be used to help people with diabetes they must be carefully tested to determine their safety and effectiveness. Clinical trials rely on volunteers to help them work out if treatments are safe, what the side effects are and whether they are more effective than existing treatments. By taking part in such trials you could play an important role in helping to prevent diabetes, to develop new and better treatments, or to find a potential cure.

We list current research trial involvement opportunities here when they are available. The list is provided for information purposes only and should not be treated as advice or a recommendation for participation in any of the studies.

You can also go to the Diabetes Research Network website to register your interest in becoming involved in research. The DRN will get in touch with you when a trial which matches your interests is recruiting for participants.

Other opportunities to get involved in research are available through the UK Clinical Trials Gateway, the ADDRESS-2 study (for people with Type 1 diabetes) and Help DiaBEATes.

If you would like to take part in a clinical trial you should always consult your healthcare team and speak to the healthcare professionals involved in the study. You should be aware that there may be adverse side effects or disadvantages when participating in research or trials.

Diabetes UK accepts no responsibility for the participation in any research or clinical trials and is therefore not liable for any claims (except in respect of death or personal injury caused by Diabetes UK’s negligence) that might arise during the course of research.

Diabetes research trial opportunities

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