JDRF is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Driven by passionate, grassroots volunteers connected to children, adolescents, and adults with this disease, JDRF is the largest charitable supporter of T1D research. The goal of JDRF is to improve the lives of every person affected by T1D by accelerating progress on the most promising opportunities for curing, better treating, and preventing T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners who share this goal.

Since its founding in 1970, JDRF has internationally awarded more than $1.5 billion to T1D research. More than 80 percent of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and research-related education. Past JDRF research efforts have helped to significantly improve the care of people with this disease, and have expanded the critical scientific understanding of T1D. JDRF will not rest until T1D is fully conquered.

JDRF’s Research Strategy

JDRF remains dedicated to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes as our highest priority. To cure type 1 diabetes will require the restoration of glucose-responsive, insulin-secreting beta cells by several possible methods, such as regeneration of remaining beta cells, or transplantation of an outside source of glucose-responsive, insulin-secreting cells. Restoration of functional beta cells either by regeneration or transplantation will need to include a way to stop the immune system from attacking these cells in the future. While clear progress is being made on these fronts, delivering a cure is a marathon effort, not a sprint.

Until a cure is within more immediate reach, JDRF is committed to keeping individuals with type 1 diabetes healthy and reducing the burden of living with the disease by improving glucose control with drugs and devices, including the development of artificial pancreas systems. Also, for those patients who have lived with the disease for decades, JDRF believes it is essential to find new ways to prevent, reverse or treat the complications of type 1 diabetes. Additionally, as part of a comprehensive research program on type 1 diabetes, JDRF is funding research to further understand the underlying causes of the disease to develop strategies to prevent the disease from occurring in future generations.

General Research Strategy

In addition to focusing on specific research challenges and gaps that will lead to curing, better treating and preventing type 1 diabetes, JDRF works to decrease barriers to commercial development of products for type 1 diabetes. In fact, JDRF is an organization that defines success as the point at which advances reach patients. So, a key JDRF goal is to help speed the delivery of new products to patients. JDRF does this by funding research focused on:

• generating a better understanding of the disease process and variability of human type 1 diabetes;
• driving product opportunities through preclinical proof-of-principle and clinical proof-of-concept research; and
• clarifying regulatory approval pathways, and influencing insurance reimbursement for type 1 diabetes products.

Additionally, it will be critically important that clinicians are educated and willing to adopt new treatment options for patients with type 1 diabetes, as they become available.

JDRF recognizes that curing, better treating and preventing type 1 diabetes will not occur without fully leveraging critical partnerships. JDRF will continue to partner with the academic sector, other funders and foundations, industry, investors and regulatory agencies to accelerate the translation of novel discoveries in the lab through commercial development, clinical evaluation of safety and efficacy, regulatory approval and reimbursement, and ultimately clinician and patient adoption; all towards the goal of having the greatest and fastest positive impact on individuals living with type 1 diabetes or at risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

JDRF Canadian Clinical Trial Network

Created in partnership with the Government of Canada, funding for the JDRF CCTN came from a commitment of $20 million by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), with an additional $13.9 million contribution from JDRF Canada. The $33.9 million investment will help to bring new technologies and treatments for diabetes to the marketplace and ensure that Canadians living with the disease and its complications are among the first to benefit from the latest research.

The JDRF CCTN is a groundbreaking effort to accelerate solutions for the management, care and cure of diabetes. The JDRF CCTN is currently developing a broad range of high-profile clinical trials in association with leading diabetes researchers at partner universities and medical centres in Southern Ontario.

The goals of the JDRF CCTN are:

• To create an improved, nationwide infrastructure for diabetes clinical trials in Canada to enable greater clinical trial capacity;
• To conduct advance clinical trials of leading-edge treatments and technologies for diabetes;
• To provide Canadians with diabetes access to the latest diabetes breakthroughs via participating in clinical trials; and
• To create new partnerships between academic researchers, non-profit organizations, industry and government to accelerate a cure.

Robarts Clinical Trials, a unit within the Robarts Research Institute, an institute operated by the University of Western Ontario, will act as the JDRF CCTN’s Clinical Operations Centre to develop, manage and apply international standards of quality across all clinical trials.

The JDRF CCTN’s mission is to accelerate the commercialization of treatments, cures, and medical technologies to improve the lives of people living with diabetes and its complications. With your help in responding to this call to action, we can transform the lives of those living with diabetes.

For more information, please visit www.jdrf.ca/cctn.

How to Get Involved

TELUS Walk to Cure Diabetes: A fun and active fundraising event attracting over 48,000 Canadians annually. For more information, please visit www.jdrf.ca/walk

Ride for Diabetes Research: A great corporate team building event raising funds for type 1 diabetes research. Teams of five riders alternate riding stationary bikes for seven minutes each over 40 minutes. For more information, please visit www.jdrf.ca/ride.

JDRF Galas: Formal evening Galas take place across Canada to fundraise and celebrate JDRF’s supporters. For more information, please visit www.jdrf.ca/galas.

Major Gifts: JDRF’s Major Gifts program invites corporations, individuals and foundations to make a philanthropic gift to research through a multi-year pledge or donation.

Outreach: JDRF’s Outreach program provides social, emotional and practical support, mentoring, and information to newly diagnosed children and adults, and their families. For more information, please visit www.jdrf.ca/outreach.

Advocacy: JDRF Advocates actively participate in the legislative decision-making process as it affects research to find a cure for diabetes and its complications. For more information, please visit www.jdrf.ca/advocacy.