New award allowing key scientist to take time off to raise baby will see research fast-tracked Diabetes research will be fast-tracked after Dr Kate Graham, pictured with baby Harrison, son Hamish and husband Tim Madden, received the Susan Alberti Women in Research Award. VITAL diabetes research will be fast-tracked after a key Victorian scientist received an award that will enable her to take time out from her crucial research to raise her baby. St Vincent's Institute (SVI) Dr Kate Graham is trying to help up to 4.7 million type 1 diabetes sufferers by working out what makes the immune system destroy insulin producing cells in the pancreas. Dr Graham, a Brunswick mother of two, received the inaugural Susan Alberti Women in Research Award today. It will allow her to take maternity leave by funding another researcher to continue her vital work while she is away caring for her two children, Hamish, 23 months and newborn, Harrison. ``I am honoured to receive this award and feel it will ease the pressure allowing me to spend this special time with my two children," she said. Unfortunately science was not a career that you could afford to have long periods away from because it is constantly evolving and funding requires continual work, she said. ``It is reassuring to know that some of my research will continue in my absence. SVI director Professor Tom Kay said women make up less than a third of Australian senior research fellows and he was proud that the award would help retain talented females. The award was presented today at The Susan Alberti Medical Research Foundation Mother's Day lunch.