The Kolling Institute is one of the Australia’s oldest medical research centres with a strong focus on improving community wellbeing and the incorporation of scientific breakthroughs directly into clinical practice aided by their location alongside the Royal North Shore Hospital. In partnership with the University of Sydney, the Kolling University creates a powerful bridge between academic excellence and clinical care.
The Balnaves Foundation’s medical strategy focuses on improving health outcomes for young Australians through the prevention and early intervention of chronic conditions, which are the leading cause of illness, disability and death in Australia.
Commencing in 2026, the Foundation is supporting a research project, led by Professor Sarah Glastras at the Kolling Institute in collaboration with the University of Sydney. Prof Glastras is a senior endocrinologist and Principal Research Fellow with over twenty years of clinical and research experience. Her work focuses on obesity, diabetes, and endocrine disorders in pregnancy. The project, Breaking the cycle of gestational diabetes for healthier generations, is set to transform pregnancy care for women using a simple blood test to identify early signs of GDM, before symptoms appear.
One in six Australian women find their pregnancy journey disrupted by a diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), a condition with consequences that last far beyond birth. GDM poses serious risks, birth trauma, neonatal hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar in newborns), and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes for both mother and child, contributing to a cycle of chronic disease. Consequently, early detection and intervention of GDM is critical to safeguarding the wellbeing of mother and child, leading to improved health outcomes across generations. Preventing GDM in one pregnancy can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in two generations and can lower rates of childhood obesity, improve maternal mental health and reduce the burden on neonatal intensive care units.
Building upon existing research from Prof Glastras and her team, this project will look at creating, testing and refining a risk prediction model to better identify women at highest risk of GDM and neonatal complications. The women identified as high-risk will not simply receive a diagnosis, through this project they will gain access to a tailored lifestyle program, shaped by multi-disciplinary care and cultural responsiveness. The personalised support will help mothers stay healthy and give their babies the best start in life, laying the foundation for a new national standard in antenatal care.
This approach is designed to deliver better health outcomes for mothers and babies, empowering women and reducing anxiety.