While we look forward to the year ahead, we want to also reflect on 2025 and the breakthroughs we saw, in type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, advocacy, community engagement, and more. We were also able to host successful events and community initiatives across the country.
Our first full year as Breakthrough T1D Canada was one of impact. And while we may have a new name, our mission and commitment to the T1D community didn’t change; it was only strengthened.
Our incredible community of donors, volunteers, and supporters are the heart and soul of everything we do, and thanks to them it was a transformative year. We committed substantive funding to research, further developed partnerships in academia with new fellowships and grants, continued to support newly-diagnosed people, and our adult T1D community, reinforcing our commitment to being a source of trusted information and support to all Canadians affected by T1D, at any age and any stage of their journey with this chronic disease.
Curing T1D is and remains our north star, while we work to improve the lives today of the estimated 300,000 Canadians with T1D until we have a world free from type 1 diabetes.
Just a few highlights of 2025 included:
- Recognizing the urgent need to reduce hurdles to access type 1 diabetes cell therapies in Canada
- Surpassing 90% of our $100 Million Campaign to Accelerate goal thanks to donor-enabled initiatives like John Cammett’s 4X Match challenge, generous donors, and dedicated campaign volunteers and long-time supporters making a profound impact on research and advocacy
- The announcement of a transformational investment in cure research by the Canucks For Kids Fund which saw the renaming of the Breakthrough T1D Canucks For Kids Fund Centre of Excellence at UBC.
- Supporting two unique fundraising events, Coast to Coast for Cures and Humour Me
- Launched ‘Beyond the Numbers’, a compelling video series that features real stories about mental health challenges and T1D
- Seeing improvements in device access in Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan, while continuing to advocate to other provincial and federal governments for increased support
- Representation at the Children’s Congress in Washington, DC where our delegate was part of the launch of the first-ever Barbie with type 1 diabetes
- Continuing to celebrate our incredible volunteers with our Volunteer Awards
- Hosting successful Breakthrough T1D Walks and Breakthrough T1D Rides in communities across Canada
- Reaching thousands of Canadians impacted by T1D through our Breakthrough T1D Education Series, bringing experts into their homes to discuss topics important to them.
- Continued support to newly diagnosed families and adults through our Bag of Hope and care kit programs
- Providing connection and support through our Breakthrough T1D Connection series, community events and peer support programs.
T1D research highlights
In cell therapies:
- Breakthrough T1D Canada and Stem Cell Network announced the fourth recipient of the J. Andrew McKee Fellowship in Type 1 Diabetes
- Thanks to donors to the $100M Campaign to Accelerate, the Breakthrough T1D Canucks For Kids Fund Centre of Excellence at UBC marks four years of innovation
- Four new grants from the Breakthrough T1D – SCN Partnership to accelerate cures
- Continuing a successful partnership with the Canadian Islet Research and Training Network (CIRTN) and announced a third cohort of co-funded trainees
- Vertex FORWARD trial of Zimislecel (previously called VX-880) is currently the most advanced stem cell-derived islet replacement trial. Of the 12 individuals that have reached the one-year mark post-transplant, all have resolved severe hypoglycemic events, reduced HbA1c to 7% or less, and 10 of 12 are off insulin
In disease-modifying therapies:
- Interim results presented from Sanofi’s PETITE-T1D trial demonstrated acceptable safety of Tzield in kids aged 0-7 with early-stage T1D
- SAB BIO presented compelling data about humanized anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), which holds promise to delay the onset and progression of T1D
Improving lives research and mental health supports
- Supported Canadian research that’s developing a wearable continuous ketone monitor.
- Funding programs devoted to improving mental health care and outcomes for people with T1D.
- Reported on the outcomes of our Mental Health Community Grants
- Breakthrough-T1D funded adjunct therapy trial of dapagliflozin (SGLT2i) for teens with T1D
In screening:
- Continued work by CanScreen T1D, a Canadian T1D screening research consortium led by Dr. Diane Wherrett.
- Breakthrough T1D continues to help facilitate screening for relatives of those with T1D across Canada via TrialNet.
For a listing of currently recruiting clinical trials, please visit clinicaltrials.breakthroughT1D.ca
To read more about research updates and stories of people living with T1D, please visit www.breakthrought1d.ca/blog.
As we head into 2026, we pause and reflect on how truly grateful we are for the support of our donors, volunteers and the commitment of the T1D community. We’re very excited to approach this new year with renewed vigour, working to build on these breakthroughs and continuing to push our mission forward.
And thanks to your generosity, cures have never been closer.
