Author: amcewen

2024 was certainly a year of transformation. We recognized 50 years of grassroots fundraising and advocacy in Canada and in November we became Breakthrough T1D™ Canada. And while we now have a new name and look, our mission remains the same. We are as steadfast as ever about reaching our ultimate goal, a world free from type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Watch: We are Breakthrough T1D

And it is always because of our incredible community of donors, volunteers, and supporters that we never wavered in our mission, seeing progress and breakthroughs across all fields of T1D research. And with successful events and advocacy initiatives across the country, we continued to strengthen our relationship with the amazing T1D community.   

From the generosity of our donors, Breakthrough T1D Canada witnessed another transformative year– committing substantive funding to research, developing our partnerships in academia with new fellowships and grants, continuing to support both newly diagnosed families, and our adult T1D community, reinforcing our commitment to being there for anyone living with T1D at any age and any stage of their journey.

And while we work relentlessly towards cures, we continue to try to improve the lives today of the estimated 300,000 Canadians with T1D, through research, advocacy and community engagement.

Highlights from the past year included: 

• Before transitioning to our new name, we recognized 50 years of JDRF in Canada and shared stories from people who have been living with T1D for over 50 years. Read their stories.
• Launched our Mental Health + Diabetes Community Grants.   
• Supporting a novel training award program in Canada that will build capacity for the future of T1D research in Canada through support of racialized women that have been underfunded in academic research.
• Globally, together with our affiliates in the United States, United Kingdon, Australia, Netherlands and Israel we are funding more trainees than before.
• Convening a successful Kids or A Cure event, bringing youth living with T1D from across the country to meet MPs and Senators in Ottawa to advocate for increased research funding.
• Advocating with partner agencies for a National Pharmacare Plan to address gaps in insulin and diabetes device coverage.
• Reaching thousands of Canadians affected 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 programs 
• Provided connection and support through our Breakthrough T1D Connection series, community events and peer support programs.
• Bringing our community together at our Walk, Ride, and Cocktails for a Cure events. 
• Continued progress with our $100 Million Campaign to Accelerate  thanks to donor-enabled initiatives like the Triple Match to research through our partnership with the CIHR, generous donors like those working to establish the Brendan Hunt Diabetes and Mental Health Fund, and dedicated campaign volunteers and long-time supporters like Bonnie Barber.

T1D research highlights 

In cell replacement: 

• Breakthrough T1D Canada and Stem Cell Network announced the third recipient of the J. Andrew McKee Fellowship in Type 1 Diabetes and a fourth fellowship opportunity launched. 
• Thanks to donors to the $100M Campaign to Accelerate, the Breakthrough T1D Centre of Excellence at UBC marks three years of innovation in type 1 diabetes cure research.
• Exciting updates from Vertex stem cell-based therapy clinical trials.
• The development of a new dedicated webpage to cell therapy and research updates and record attendance at our Cell Therapy Education Session.
• Awarding the inaugural Breakthrough T1D Clinician Investigator Fellowship to Dr. Ahsen Chaudhry to support his research and clinician training in islet transplantation.

In disease-modifying therapies: 

• Psoriasis drug shows promise for treating type 1 diabetes.
• Breakthrough T1D and Integrated Nanotherapeutics collaborate to advance development of an immune tolerizing therapeutic to treat T1D.

In treatments to improve lives: 

• The Breakthrough T1D-CIHR Partnership to Defeat Diabetes announce 5 new grants in Knowledge Mobilization,  to provide researchers and knowledge users the opportunity to work together to use research evidence to improve health services, programs, and policies.
• Funding programs devoted to improving mental health care and outcomes for people with T1D.
• Renewed our funding of the BETTER project, a Canadian research initiative aimed at improving the lives of people with T1D.

In screening: 

• Breakthrough T1D Canada and Sanofi Canada partner to raise awareness about autoimmune type 1 diabetes and the critical role of screening in its early detection.
• Continued work by CanScreen T1D, a new 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.

In clinical trials: 

• Launched the Breakthrough T1D Clinical Trials Finder to make finding T1D clinical trials recruiting in Canada easier and simpler – clinicaltrials.breakthroughT1D.ca.
• Continued to raise awareness of the importance of clinical trials for moving forward critical T1D research through social media and an Education Series event.

To read more about research updates and stories of people living with T1D, please visit www.breakthrought1d.ca/blog. 

As we head into 2025, we pause and reflect on how truly grateful we are for the support of our donors, volunteers and the commitment of the T1D community. Thank you! Together, as we drive toward curing type 1 diabetes, we help to make every day better for the people living with it. 

Breakthrough T1D provides seed funding for highly innovative research with significant potential to accelerate the most promising type 1 diabetes (T1D) research in both cures and approaches to improve disease management. Breakthrough T1D Innovation Grants address key challenges in T1D research and have the potential to generate ground-breaking discoveries. These grants support a wide range of projects, including developing new treatments and insulin formulations, advanced glucose monitoring technologies, and preserving insulin-producing beta cells, all to help with finding cures and improving lives of those affected with T1D.

Breakthrough T1D is thrilled to announce that two Canadian researchers have recently been awarded one-year Innovation Grants for their T1D studies focusing on creating a new treatment to treat diabetic retinopathy (Dr. Chakrabarti) and on developing new technology that delivers amylin to the body to improve blood sugar control (Dr. Maikawa).

Dr. Subrata Chakrabarti (University of Western Ontario)

Dr. Chakrabarti, who received his medical degree in India and his PhD in Pathology from the University of Manitoba, is a professor in the Department of Pathology at Western University and a pathologist at London Health Sciences Centre. He specializes in the research of chronic diabetic complications, with diabetic retinopathy and cardiomyopathy being his two main areas of focus.  

His current research focuses on stopping a molecule called HOTAIR (HOX antisense intergenic RNA) that can cause damage in the eyes of people with diabetes. This damage can lead to a serious eye disease called diabetic retinopathy (DR), which can cause blindness. HOTAIR controls other harmful molecules in the eye. The goal is to create a new treatment using a small silencing RNA molecule (siRNA) that can be given as an intraocular injection or an eyedrop to block HOTAIR and help prevent DR. They will conduct experiments using cells from the eye, rats, and mice to analyze the biochemical, functional, and structural effects of the treatment, both in living organisms (in vivo) and in controlled lab environments (in vitro), to improve DR treatments.

Dr. Caitlin Maikawa (University of Toronto)

Dr. Caitlin Maikawa, an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, completed her PhD at Stanford University, focusing on diabetes management and insulin delivery. She then continued her research as a postdoctoral researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, developing sensors for tracking long-term inflammation in the body. Her current research in the Maikawa Lab focuses on drug delivery in diabetes and other autoimmune diseases.

Dr. Caitlin Maikawa is currently working to develop a ‘smart’ amylin formulation that reduces the need for multiple injections associated with its use. Amylin is a hormone released from beta cells in the pancreas alongside insulin, and its production is unfortunately also decreased in T1D patients. When administered to those with type 1, amylin slows down the absorption of sugar from a meal into the blood stream, resulting in a smaller blood sugar spike after meals.

Despite the availability of pramlintide, a drug version of amylin, its requirement for injections at every meal limits its use. This study therefore aims to develop a new formulation for the drug that would deliver amylin in pulses at mealtimes throughout the day after a single injection in the morning. This builds on Breakthrough T1D’s ongoing support for dual-hormone insulin therapies, with Dr. Haidar and his team of researchers studying pramlintide and its addition to an artificial pancreas to improve glucose control alongside insulin.

Breakthrough T1D Canada will continue to support work that aims to prevent, treat and improve the lives of people with T1D. We will provide updates on these exciting Innovation Grants as they become available.

Hannah was born on August 4, 1994, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She began skiing at 2 and joined the Mont-Tremblant Ski Club at 12, where she developed a passion for ski racing. Hannah’s talent quickly propelled her to the top ranks in alpine skiing, achieving multiple podiums in FIS-sanctioned events.

Hannah’s World Cup career began in 2018 with a 27th-place finish in her debut race at Blue Mountain, Canada. Despite missing the 2019-2020 season due to a leg injury, she made a strong comeback. Her breakthrough came at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, where she placed 7th in ski cross, confirming her position among the world’s best ski cross skiers.

Since her Olympic performance, Hannah has become a regular on the World Cup podium. In January 2024, she secured back-to-back victories in Nakiska, Canada, marking the high point of her 2023-2024 season. She currently ranks 2nd in the FIS point list, despite an ankle injury that cut short her previous season.

In her own words, Hannah shares what life as a high-performance athlete with T1D looks like for her, and why it was important to her to become a Breakthrough T1D Canada ambassador.

Hannah Schmidt:

I grew up as a very active child. Playing every sport I could! I was diagnosed at the age of 12, very much out of nowhere. I remember going on a road trip across Canada with my parents and having to stop every 30-60 minutes to go pee. Once we got home, I had no energy to do anything, and my parents thought this was very bizarre for me as I loved doing anything active.

When I was diagnosed, I remember my mom just bawling and I turned to her and said, “I will be ok, this is not going to change how I will live my life.”

I still live by this comment and want to portray this as much as possible to people that are living with diabetes. Being diagnosed with diabetes definitely has many challenges but I have learnt how to deal with them the best way possible.

Diabetes isn’t easy, I am not going to sugar coat it. So, when I was diagnosed it was a huge learning curve to be able to adjust everything so that I was able to compete in all the sports that I was doing at the time (basketball, soccer, alpine skiing, sprint canoe/kayak and more). It took time but once you get in the mindset/rhythm of doing things with diabetes it does get a bit easier. I always had the goal to compete in the Olympic Games. I wasn’t sure what sport it was going to be in but I knew I wanted to achieve that goal. I started specializing in the sport of Alpine Skiing at the age of 16 (4 years after I was diagnosed with T1D). I loved the adrenaline of alpine skiing and would always beg my parents to go skiing every weekend.

I competed in alpine skiing until 2018, I completed my university degree at Carleton University the same year. At that time, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue skiing and made the decision to try Ski Cross. I loved ski cross the moment I started. I competed at the Nor-Am cup level for my first year, achieving multiple podiums and then progressed into the World Cup the following season.

The year leading up to the Olympics in 2022, I had a breakout season with consistent results and therefore qualified to the Olympics and achieved my goal of competing in the Olympic Games. I placed 7th at the games and really enjoyed every moment of it. There were definitely moments of doubt amongst those years of competing and there still are day to day. Having diabetes has made all of this so much more rewarding in the end. 

Managing diabetes while being a high-performance athlete is not easy. I will say that right off the bat. Being able to use the technology that there is now a days makes it a lot easier. I am on the Medtronic pump and the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that corresponds with Medtronic. Having the CGM while skiing has been amazing!! I have been able to see how the stress/anxiety of racing impacts my blood sugars etc. When I am training or competing, I typically aim to have my blood sugar at 7.0 mmol/l so that I don’t feel like my blood sugar is going to drop while training/competing. This allows me to not have to worry about going too low.

That being said everyone is different and prefers it a certain way. Diabetes definitely adds extra stress when it comes to being a high-performance athlete because of all the travel and the day-to-day ups and downs. That being said I wouldn’t change it for the world. I love what I do! My day-to-day life changes every day; we have travel days, rest days, training days, race days, sick days etc. and that means that my diabetes is not going to look the same each day. I do my best to maintain a good blood sugar average by using my CGM to continuously monitor my levels. 

It is really important to me to raise awareness about T1D because diabetes is a manageable disease that you can live with. My goal is to encourage individuals that have diabetes to achieve their goals even if it is going to be harder. The feeling once you reach those goals is even better because you are living with diabetes, and you can still do what you want! I also believe the more we talk about diabetes and the more it is out in the world the closer we can get to finding a cure for it. 

Finding a cure for diabetes would be life changing. I honestly don’t remember a day when I didn’t have to think about how much insulin I should take for a certain meal, or did I bring sugar just in case I go low or do I have enough diabetes supplies to last for my two-week training camp. There is always so much going on in my brain when it comes to organization and planning when it comes to living with diabetes. Once there is a cure my day-to-day is going to look a lot easier and simplified! I know the research is very close to finding a cure and I know to would make the lives of everyone living with diabetes so much easier. 

I want to help advocate with Breakthrough T1D to show that living with diabetes doesn’t mean that you can’t do sports, or you can’t get a certain job or do a certain task, it just means it might take longer or it will look a bit different, but you can still do it. I really want to get that point across that everybody’s journey is different and mine involves diabetes. Yours can too. 

Lastly, I just want to say to everyone living with diabetes, go after your dreams. Fight for what you want to achieve in life and go for it. It’s going to be harder, and you are going to have good days and bad days but when you achieve your goals, you will enjoy it that much more.

A quote I said right when I was diagnosed was “Diabetes isn’t going to change what I want to achieve in my life, it might look a bit different and that’s ok.” This quote has been my go-to when I’m having a tough day or need a quick reminder. 

The holiday season is fast approaching, and with it the stress of finding that perfect gift for the important people in your life. Why not let Breakthrough T1D give you some ideas to help you really spoil your loved one living with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

We’ve put together a gift guide with some fun holiday suggestions and ideas that can also work for just about anyone on your list. Whether you go simple, complicated, homemade, from a store or a gift card – know that the best gift is always the one chosen with care and thought.

For the person who loves to relax

Feeling great in your skin

With the winter cold comes dry skin, and this can be a particular challenge for people T1D. It’s also better for glucose monitoring when the skin is well moisturized. There are so many different brands and scents to choose from, so this can be a stocking stuffer that is practical, but also feels luxurious.

Find some ideas here: https://www.vitalitymedical.com/blog/10-best-lotions-creams-for-diabetic-dry-skin.html

Fun, cozy socks and slippers

Tired and painful feet are uncomfortable for anyone, but especially people with T1D. Compression socks can help with fatigue and nerve pain in the feet. Non-skid, seamless, moisture-wicking socks, or a funky pair of slippers (make sure they’ve got a good sole and a closed toe and back to prevent slipping) can ease the dreaded cold floors of winter. Plus, there is nothing better than feeling toasty, warm and cozy.

And for cuter socks and slippers.

Plants to add life to a home

It’s hard to go wrong with gifts that spruce up a living space. Easy to care for plants, like cactus or snake plants can add comfort and decoration while not requiring much maintenance.

There are also a variety of plants that help to purify the air in a room.

Find some inspiration and ideas here: https://foli.ca/ or https://plantsome.ca/

There’s nothing like being cozy

Sweaters, blankets, tuques and mitts – we all need them in the winter in Canada, and they offer warmth and function.

Find some inspiration here: https://www.etsy.com/ca/market/mittens or https://www.amazon.ca/stores/Carhartt/

Gift to stimulate the mind

Puzzles, board games and video games all help pass the time over the cold winter days. Maybe your child loves beading or making jewelry. Books, journals, crossword puzzles, sudoko or trivia games – all of these are great ideas to keep your loved one occupied and tapping into their creative side while hibernating over the long winter months.

For the fashionista in your life

Quirky and stylish diabetes supply bags

When you have T1D, you need to carry supplies with you, so why not make it cute and creative! 

These fashionable accessories are often designed by people who have diabetes and understand that practicality doesn’t mean you can’t have fun too.

Glow up your pump and monitor covers

Consider these beautiful pump and glucose monitor covers by HyperPumpART. Stylish, lightweight and durable, these covers are reusable and handcrafted by their creators Shonna (who lives with T1D herself and Ricky). You can purchase them pre-made or get a gift card so the person with T1D in your life can choose their own.

See them here: https://hyperpumpart.com/ or on their Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hyperpumpart

Clothes specially designed for people with diabetes

Breakthrough T1D supporter Warrior Hill designs clothing to be worn while playing sports that accommodate pumps and glucose monitors, and a portion of proceeds supports T1D research.

Learn more: https://www.warriorhill.ca/

(*Please note that except for Warrior Hill, Breakthrough T1D receives no funding from any of the suggested links, they are just to help you get started)

Gift the gift of philanthropy

Donate

We know that not everyone does gift exchanges over the holidays. Or maybe you’ve been searching for an appropriate gift for a colleague.

Donating to a charity, including Breakthrough T1D Canada will help you to feel good while doing good. The gift of philanthropy is one that helps both today and tomorrow. With your support, Breakthrough T1D can continue helping the close to 300,000 Canadians living with T1D – and their loved ones – live better, healthier lives today while we invest in the most promising research into cures for tomorrow – and get us closer to our ultimate goal, a world free from T1D. 

And if you donate today, your gift will be doubled up to December 31, 2024, with a generous match.

Whatever gift you choose, if it’s chosen with consideration and thought – it will always be the right choice. From everyone at Breakthrough T1D, wishing you and yours a happy and peaceful holiday season, and a very happy 2025.

Thank you for supporting Breakthrough T1D and the T1D community. 

Winter is on its way, and with it the holiday season and the parties and meals that come along with it. Most of us find we indulge a little more in holiday snacks and treats – and these are often sugar and carb laden. One of the major stresses of managing type 1 diabetes (T1D), particularly for people who are newly diagnosed, can be meal planning and both how it will affect blood glucose levels and how much insulin you or your child might need.

But with a little planning and preparation, you can and should enjoy time with family and friends – including holiday dinners – with confidence.

Thank you to Beyond Type 1 for these traditional holiday meal carb counts to help guide your decisions this holiday season.

Beyond Type 1 has a full page of resources to make navigating the holidays a little easier: https://beyondtype1.org/celebrations-holidays/

Managing T1D is a challenge any time but can be made easier when you’re armed with information to help you plan accordingly.

So, raise that glass, make a toast and relax and enjoy all the holiday season has to offer!

* Please note that your portion sizes may vary, and your carbohydrate counts will need to be adjusted accordingly.

Mains

Item	Amount	Carbohydrates
Turkey	Any	0g
Ham	Any	0g
Beef	Any	0g
Chicken	Any	0g
Duck	Any	0g
Goose	Any	0g
Lasagna	1 Cup	30g
Brisket	1 oz.	0g

Sides

Item	Amount	Carbohydrates
Mashed Potatoes	1 cup	30g
Roasted Potatoes	1 cup	28g
Sweet Potato	1 Med.	28g
Potato Latke	1 Med.	10g
Candied Yams	1/2 cup	45g
Sweet Potato Casserole with Mini Marshmallows	1/3 cup	30g
Green Beans	1/2 cup	4g
Green Bean Casserole	1 1/2 cup.	9g
Corn	1/2 cup	9g
Sauerkraut	1 cup	6g
Glazed Carrots	1/2 cup	25g
Brussel Sprouts	1/2 cup	4g
Cheese	1 oz.	0-1g
Stuffing	1/2 cup	20g
Cranberry Sauce	1/4 cup	25g
Gravy	1/2 cup	5g
Dinner Roll	1	20g
Biscuit	1	25g
Cornbread	1 piece	28g
Challah	2 oz.	30g
Matzo Ball	1	10g
Matzo Ball Soup	1 cup	15g
Noodle Kugel	2″ Square	23g
Apple Sauce – Sweetened	4 oz.	23g
Apple Sauce – Unsweetened	4 oz.	12g
Sour Cream	2 tbsp.	.5g
Olive Oil	1 tbsp.	0g

Desserts

Item	Amount	Carbohydrates
Sweet Potato Pie	1/8th Slice	35g
Minced Meat Pie	1/8th Slice	55g
Pumpkin Pie	1/8th Slice	35g
Apple Pie	1/8th Slice	45g
Pecan Pie	1/8th Slice	60g
Meringue Pie	1/8th Slice	50g
Fruitcake	1/8th Slice	26g
Christmas (Plum) Pudding	2 oz.	30g
Sticky Toffee Pudding	2 oz.	25g
Bread Pudding	2 oz.	20g
Trifle	1 2 oz.	15g
Ginger Snap Cookies	4 (1 oz.)	23g
Shortbread Cookies	4 (1 oz.)	21g
Chocolate Chip Cookies	2	20g
Peanut Butter Cookies	2	20g
Sugar Cookies	2	22g
Meringue Cookies	6	15g
Rugelach	1 oz./pc.	17g
Sufganiyot (Jelly Donut)	1	25g
Cheese Blintz	1	12g
Chocolate Gelt	1 oz.	17g
Cheesecake	1 pc. (1/6)	20g
Candy Cane	1	15g
Vanilla Ice Cream	1/2 cup	16g
Chocolate Ice Cream	1/2 cup	18g
Brand Butter	2 tbsp.	15g
Whipped Cream (Unsweetened)	2 tbsp.	2g

Drinks

Item	Amount	Carbohydrates
Eggnog	1/2 cup	30g
Hot Cocoa with Water	1 cup	15-20g
Hot Cocoa with Milk	1 cup	30g
Spiced Apple Cider (Non-Alcoholic)	1 cup	30g
Hard Apple Cider	12 oz.	15-30g
Wine (White or Red)	5 oz.	4g
Champagne	5 oz.	3g
Regular Beer	5 oz.	12g
Light Beer	12 oz.	6g
Spirits	1 oz.	0g

Canada is home to world-class researchers who are making discoveries with the potential to improve the lives of people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, these research findings can only make a difference if we share them with the knowledge users, ie. the right people, including health care providers, people living with T1D and their communities, people at risk of T1D, and policymakers. 

The Knowledge Mobilization in Diabetes Prevention and Treatment operating grants, led by the CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes, in partnership with Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), provide researchers and knowledge users the opportunity to work together to use research evidence to improve health services, programs, and policies. 

The goal of this funding opportunity is to enhance knowledge mobilization in the field of diabetes, focusing on evidence integration into health services, programs, and policies, and to: 

• Increase and enhance bi-directional mobilization of knowledge and integration of evidence into policies and practices related to diabetes prevention, remission, screening, diagnosis, management, treatment, and delivery of care for all types of diabetes as well as screening and prevention of diabetes complications. 

• Support researchers and knowledge users in the development and implementation of a knowledge mobilization plan to address a health system priority and/or identified evidence needs or gaps. 

• Facilitate uptake of evidence to improve the lives of people at risk of or living with diabetes in Canada. 

Breakthrough T1D has supported 5 of the 12 grants awarded in this competition Each grant is worth up to $125,000 each for a 1-year duration.  

Anne-Sophie Brazeau, McGill University – Integrating an online training platform into type 1 diabetes clinical care to empower self-management (Support implementation) 

Dr. Brazeau and her team will evaluate the implementation strategies for integrating SUPPORT, an online training platform, as part of clinic care and put in place activities to help make health care practitioners aware of the innovation. The aim will be to increase the use and uptake of the platform as well as shorten the time needed to translate research results into practice, ultimately improving the lives of people with T1D. 

Valeria E Rac, University Health Network – Connecting Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programs in Ontario. Mobilizing Knowledge across the Health System 

Dr. Rac and her team will develop a pathway towards the creation of a provincial diabetic retinopathy screening program that includes a provincial registry. The team will also assess the screening needs of different patient populations living with diabetes across the province, and set up knowledge gathering workshops to improve access to diabetic retinopathy screening programs, thereby improving eye health for those individuals living with diabetes. 

Peter A Senior, University of Alberta – Freedom and Flexibility – Communicating the Experiences of Beta Cell Replacement to Patients and Providers 

Dr. Senior and his team will examine and explore the experiences of individuals with T1D who have undergone islet transplantation, their family members, and health care practitioners engaged in islet transplantation to better understand experiences of the risks and benefits of islet transplantation as well as the limitations of conventional treatments for T1D. The team will then work closely with the T1D community to co-create informational and educational materials that can convey a richer, more nuanced picture of the experience of living with T1D and the outcomes of islet transplantation. 

Liris P Smith, Yukon University – Yukon Experiences in Management of Type One Diabetes: Patient and Provider Perspectives 

Dr. Smith and her team will explore and describe the experiences of people and caregivers of people with T1D in Yukon, recognizing that the needs of the community are unique and that access to care is often limited in rural settings. The grant will allow the team to also describe the experiences of Yukon primary care providers for persons living with T1D, with the ultimate goal to improve access to care and management supports. 

Ian S Zenlea, Trillium Health Partners – Supporting High School Students with Type 1 Diabetes: Mobilizing Experiential Knowledge to Combat Diabetes-Related Stigma 

There is an urgent need to centre the voices of adolescents with T1D to learn about how to address diabetes-related stigma in high schools to reduce harm and foster safe and inclusive learning spaces. Dr. Zenlea and his colleagues will co-design peer-led multimedia awareness products that can address diabetes-related stigma in high school settings. 

These grants are part of the overall Breakthrough T1D – CIHR Parternship to Defeat Diabetes. This unique partnership ensures that T1D remains a priority in Canadian health research and is based on a shared vision of improved care, treatment, outcomes and cures for those living with T1D. 

Since its inception in 2017, this partnership has funded several innovative clinical trials and translational research projects with a view of accelerating the development of novel treatment approaches for people with T1D, in addition to cures for the disease. Multiple new cutting-edge projects will be funded in the coming year, promising to further accelerate Breakthrough T1D’s mission. Learn more about the funded research projects from this partnership. 

This is an example of an instrumental partnership that is able to leverage investments from multiple funding sources and increase the speed at which novel research is conducted in alignment with our mission of a world free from type 1 diabetes. 

On October 28, 2024, the Breakthrough T1D Centre of Excellence at the University of British Columbia (UBC) held its third annual meeting on UBC campus in Vancouver to discuss progress to date as well as the team’s ambitious plans for Years 4 and 5 of the research program.

During Year 3, the team made several breakthroughs, achieved excellent progress against research milestones, and established goals and deliverables for the next two years of funding. Updates from across the Centre’s three research themes in year 3 include:

Theme 1: Building better beta cells for islet replacement therapy, led by Dr. Francis Lynn

To help study how stem cell-derived islets develop and function in experimental settings, the team has created and characterized multiple human pluripotent stem cell lines that glow green when they develop into insulin-producing beta cells and red when they develop into glucagon-producing alpha cells. Experiments now underway will shed light on how these two key islet cell types interact, and how each cell type influences the function of the other. Work in this theme in Year 3 was also focused on finding factors that could protect transplanted stem cell-derived islets from stress and death. Using imaging techniques, and comparing islets from organ donors with stem cell-derived islets, the team discovered 6 factors that significantly reduce beta cell death. In the coming year, work in Theme 1 will follow up on the protective factors as well as pursue a new approach to develop “designer” beta cells using gene editing techniques. Together, this work is advancing the development of high-quality islet replacement products that will survive and function long-term once transplanted.

Theme 2: Protecting insulin-producing beta cells from immune attack, led by Dr. Megan Levings

A key focus in Theme 2 is developing regulatory T cell (Treg) therapy as a better way to protect islet transplants, compared with conventional immunosuppression. In Year 3, the team built on results from Years 1 and 2 to develop a new method to grow Tregs in the lab that will improve how long they survive and function after they are infused into patients with T1D, and are protecting the invention for future commercial interests. In year 4, the team will build on these findings to develop islet-targeted Tregs and test them in preclinical models of T1D. The team also advanced its development of a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based approach for T1D, in collaboration with UBC spin-off company Integrated Nanotherapetics (recent recipient of a new Breakthrough T1D industry grant). In Year 3, the team extended findings that their LNP-based therapy could prevent T1D a mouse model of the disease and, remarkably, also showed that the treatment could also reverse established diabetes. During year 4, the team will optimize delivery of this new therapy and conduct additional preclinical testing.

Theme 3: Targeting and monitoring beta cell stress, led by Dr. Jim Johnson

During year 3, the team identified over 150 different proteins that can protect beta cells from T1D-inducing cellular stress caused by things such as increased demand for insulin, inflammation, infection or chemicals. The team also uncovered new information about EIF2A, a previously identified “hub” for the cellular stress response, moving the team closer to developing new approaches that can protect beta cells from harm. In year 4, the team will continue to study what happens when beta cells are under stress to help zero in on new therapeutic targets. Theme 3 also advanced work on biomarkers of beta cell function that, pending further testing and validation in Year 4, may be useful as a new tool to measure the progression of T1D and response to novel therapies being developed in other themes.

“The Centre team has made outstanding progress in its first three years,” said Francis Lynn, Associate Professor, UBC Department of Surgery & Biomedical Engineering. “The momentum at the annual meeting was tangible as we discussed wins, challenges, and future plans for collaboratively accelerating our research towards cures.”

New Centre-associated awards announced

During the annual meeting, the Centre also took the opportunity to celebrate and welcome the third J. Andrew McKee Postdoctoral Fellow, funded at the Centre by Breakthrough T1D and Canada’s Stem Cell Network, Dr. Alyssa Weinruch, who has joined the lab of Dr. Jim Johnson to contribute to Theme 3 projects. Learn more about Dr. Weinruch on our blog.

To drive further innovation and bring new high-risk, high-reward pilot projects into the research program, the Centre has also run a seed grant competition for three consecutive years. At this annual meeting, we heard updates from Year 2 seed grant holders, and an announcement of projects funded through the third and final competition – which in addition to seed grants, awarded sapling grants to support earlier seed grant projects with promise.

Dr. Jan Dutz and collaborators are using their 2023 seed grant to test a modified version of methotrextate – a drug that has long been used for treatment of other immune diseases – to see if it can prevent progression of T1D in preclinical models. Thus far, the group has optimized the novel formulation of methotrexate and are awaiting the outcome of preclinical experiments currently in progress. The other 2023 seed grant awardee, Dr. Marc Horwitz, worked with this team to investigate how the complex relationship between viruses and the gut microbiome can influence susceptibility to T1D, and discovered a key role for short-chain fatty acids – produced in the gut upon digestion of high-fiber foods – in protecting from T1D.

2024 seed and sapling grant funding recipients and their associated projects are:

• Dr. Nicole Krentz, together with Theme 3 lead Dr. Jim Johnson, will study whether a protein called RREB can protect beta cells from autoimmunity.
• Dr. Ramon Klein Geltink, together with postdoctoral fellow Dr. Lauar de Brito Monteiro, will use a cutting-edge method called SCENITH to assess beta cells and immune cells to gain new clues as to how progression of T1D could be slowed or stopped.
• Dr. Laura Evgin, together with Theme 2 lead Megan Levings, plans to engineer CAR Treg cells designed to wipe out the harmful immune cells that kill beta cells in T1D, and test their efficacy in a preclinical model of the disease.
• Dr. Hongshen Ma (recipient of a 2022 seed grant from the Centre) will work with Theme 1 lead Francis Lynn and use new sapling grant funding to develop nanotechnology-based approaches that will enable measurement of hormone production by individual islets, alongside other characteristics, providing new tools that can help to examine and improve islet replacement products for T1D.
• Dr. Dan Luciani (recipient of a 2022 seed grant from the Centre) was awarded a sapling grant to build on initial findings about a protein called TFEB that he hypothesizes can be manipulated to increase the function and resilience of stem cell-derived beta cells for therapy.

Lived Experience Advisory Group

The Centre’s T1D Lived Experience Advisory Group established in 2023 had a key role during this year’s annual meeting. The Advisory Group’s role is to integrate the voices of people with lived experience of T1D into the Centre’s work to ensure their interests and concerns are heard and translated into research aims and knowledge mobilization activities. This year, the Advisory Group led an interactive workshop entitled “Bridging the gap”, during which members of the research team had a chance to connect with people with lived experience of T1D. Discussion focused on personal perspectives on how to define a cure for T1D, and what this would mean for those living with the disease, resulting in insightful and impactful learnings for all attendees.

“Connecting with Centre researchers and sharing the real experiences of living with T1D was powerful,” said Ben Mammon, a member of the Centre’s T1D Lived Experience Advisory Group.  “I’m grateful for the ongoing progress and dedication their teams bring to the T1D community. Knowing that our shared stories can help drive innovations to improve lives is inspiring and motivating.”

The future

The overall goal of the Centre is to drive new T1D cure therapies towards clinical trials. As the Centre begins year 4, the team is laser-focused on accelerating key projects towards clinical translation, identifying commercial receptors for relevant technologies, and publishing their findings. They will also continue to support multidisciplinary activities for the Centre’s many trainees, including skills-focused workshops and a mentorship program, and engage the Lived Experience Advisory Group increasingly as projects move towards the clinic. In the long term, the Centre team looks forward to leveraging UBC’s Advanced Therapeutics Manufacturing Facility , a new facility that will be co-directed by Dr. Megan Levings and that is currently in planning on UBC campus. This facility is expected to propel Vancouver to the forefront of cell therapy innovation and clinical research.

“I have attended all three annual meetings for the Centre, and this year’s event really delivered something special,” said Heather Miller, parent of a person with T1D and long-time Breakthrough T1D supporter. “The progress shared seemed like it was on a different level – the advances feel closer than ever to reality. This is so meaningful to us having lived with T1D in our family for so long.”

Read more about the Centre here or at UBC’s dedicated webpage at https://breakthrought1d.med.ubc.ca/

For information about how to support the Breakthrough T1D Centre of Excellence at UBC, please visit: https://breakthrought1d.ca/get-involved/accelerate/

Breakthrough T1D’s largest advocacy event – Kids For a Cure was held from November 3^rd to 5^th in Ottawa, Ontario. Held every two years, Kids for a Cure is Breakthrough T1D Canada’s most important advocacy initiative. Our youth advocates from across Canada help politicians understand the daily challenges of living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and the importance of accelerating progress towards cures.

And what an impact our youth delegates made – engaging with more than 50 Members of Parliament and Senators from across all parties during two jam-packed days. Delegates shared their stories of what it means to live with type 1 diabetes, what a cure would mean for them, and advocated to the federal government for increased support on issues impacting people living with the disease.

Their recommendation to the federal government:

Breakthrough T1D recommends that the Government of Canada invest $15 million over 4 years on cures research for type 1 diabetes (T1D), with a focus on cell therapy research to get us closer to functional cures for the disease. Breakthrough T1D Canada commits to securing matching funds for this investment for a total research impact of $30 million over four years. 

Our delegates represented youth from across Canada and live with T1D. They come to Ottawa to put a human face to the disease and help Parliamentarians better understand the realities of life with T1D.

This year, 18 kids between the ages of 10 and 17 were selected to be delegates out of over 130 applications. We had representatives from every province and even Nunavut!

 Braden, age 13, Kids For a Cure Co-Chair:

 “One of the greatest gifts is crossing paths with people who are as brave, as they are inspiring. Meeting these incredible individuals has reminded me of the power in courage, kindness and staying true to who you are, no matter what life brings. Grateful for these people and the stories they shared and to the MP’s, Minsters and Senators that took time to hear our voices. A huge thanks to Breakthrough T1D Canada, for choosing me to come on this trip, allowing me to meet so many wonderful people and host the experience of a lifetime.”

Maryam, age 16 Kids For a Cure Co-Chair:

“Being a co-chair for Kids For a Cure has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Living with type 1 diabetes is a journey filled with challenges, but this event has given me the chance to turn those challenges into strength and purpose. Sharing our stories with Canadian leaders, knowing they’re listening to our voices, is incredibly moving. It reminds me that our voices have the power to create real change. Kids For a Cure is more than just an event—it’s a place where we can connect, find support, and fight for a brighter future together. I’ll carry this experience with me always, knowing it’s made me stronger and brought us one step closer to a world without T1D.”

Thank you to all our delegates, their parents and Breakthrough T1D staff for their tireless work and efforts without whom Kids For A Cure would not be possible. Thank you also to our wonderful co-chairs of the All-Party Type 1 Diabetes Caucus for all their help in putting together this wonderful event and for working together with Canadians living with T1D to improve outcomes and drive crucial research forward.

Dr. Alyssa Weinrauch is the third annual recipient of the J. Andrew McKee Fellowship in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), jointly funded by Breakthrough T1D Canada and the Stem Cell Network (SCN) based at the Breakthrough T1D Centre of Excellence at the University of British Columbia (UBC).

The J. Andrew McKee Fellowship in Type 1 Diabetes, aims to help accelerate Canadian research, develop talent and enhance Canada’s global leadership in T1D research. The Fellowship Program is named in honour and memory of John Andrew McKee, who was Past President and CEO at Breakthrough T1D (then known as JDRF) and a long-standing member and Chair of SCN’s Board of Directors. Andrew played a significant role in developing the future of both organizations and believed deeply in the important role of science in making Canada a better place for all.

Dr. Weinrauch will be joining the Breakthrough T1D Centre of Excellence from the University of Manitoba where she was a postdoctoral researcher.

Breakthrough T1D had the pleasure of connecting with Dr. Weinrauch to congratulate her on her new fellowship and discuss her research.  

Tell us a bit about your background:  

I did my BSc and PhD at the University of Alberta studying Physiology, Cell and Developmental Biology. Throughout both degrees (and my postdoc at the University of Manitoba), I was fortunate to work at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on Vancouver Island studying comparative physiology. My PhD studies focused on the digestive physiology of an evolutionarily important and ancient fish, the hagfish. My postdoc then investigated evolutionary endocrinology by investigating other animals near the base of the tree of life, such as sharks and sturgeon. I think the conserved function of hormones like insulin between sharks and humans is fascinating and that led me to pursue this current position at UBC studying how lipids can influence insulin secretion from islet cells.

What brought you to Vancouver?

I have heard wonderful things about the people and facilities at UBC. I met one of my supervisors at a conference and the work he presented really wowed me. It made me jump at the chance to work with him and move into a field that has applicability for human health.

What drew you to type 1 diabetes?

I am actually a type 1 diabetic, so I think throughout my scientific journey I have gravitated towards understanding my own disease by learning about the underlying physiology. I first approached it from an evolutionary perspective studying animals that have insulin but that are more ‘simplistic’ than humans in some ways. It is quite exciting to transition into working with human cells and gain a deeper understanding of T1D.

What are you planning on investigating at the Breakthrough T1D Center of Excellence at UBC?  

My research focuses on understanding how lipids affect the development and maturation of stem cell derived beta cells.  Stem cell derived beta cells offer unlimited potential for curative therapy of T1D. However, currently they do not mature to the same level as human islets, and we believe that lipids may be involved in getting the immature stem cell derived beta cells to that final maturation stage.

How is the Breakthrough T1D-SCN fellowship going to impact your research?  

It has already brought together a great team of researchers. I will be co-supervised by Drs. Dan Luciani, Francis Lynn, and James Johnson who each have a unique and applicable skill set for the proposed work. This fellowship allows us to develop a more nuanced project given everyone’s expertise, as well as the rest of the members of the BreakthroughT1D Centre of Excellence at UBC. It also allows me to attend conferences that are new to me and will be a great way to be introduced to and integrated with the stem cell and diabetes research community.

What are some of your favourite aspects of what you do as a researcher?  

I love the diversity of my job as a researcher; how I can go from writing to lab work to data analysis depending on what I feel on a given day. It also has a lot of creative license. It’s exciting to read a new paper and be inspired to design an experiment with a new perspective.

What were some of the more surprising aspects or challenges of your research?   

Learning how to fail and persevere was a huge component of becoming a good researcher. Science is so much failure and intricate troubleshooting before a result and I don’t think a lot of us expect that when starting out in research.

What interests you or excites you outside of your research?  

The ocean! I’ve loved studying animals that live there and now being in Vancouver myself I can explore so many new beaches and hiking trails with the ocean in reach.

Breakthrough T1D Canada thanks Dr. Weinrauch for her time and congratulates her on the fellowship award. We wish her the best of luck with her research, and we will share research updates when they become available. 

Since 1986, corporate Canada has been participating in one of Canada’s longest running and top fundraising events, the JDRF Ride to Defeat Diabetes. This year rides were held in Montréal and Toronto on October 10 and 16 and 17, respectively, along with ‘Ride Your Way’ events taking place across the country all October.

T1D is an autoimmune condition impacting nearly 300,000 Canadians. The incidence of T1D in Canada is rising by 4.4% each year, higher than the global average of 3% – and we don’t know why. Funds raised from the Ride will accelerate the pace of the most promising research into cures and support programs that improve the lives of those living with the disease today.

More than 1400 teams and over 7000 fundraisers from more than 85 Canadian companies coast to coast participated in this high-energy event. Our Riders have secured over 18,300 donations and have raised over $2.1 million and counting. We could not be more grateful for everyone’s efforts!

Together, corporate Canada made a difference for Canadians living with T1D and the approximately 11,000 more who will have been diagnosed with the disease this year.

A huge thank you to our sponsors, volunteers, JDRF ambassadors who shared their stories of what it’s like to live with T1D, and the people who came out to ride. Without them – none of this would be possible. Their support is helping us get closer to our goal for cures for type 1 diabetes.

Thank you also to our emcees in Montreal and Toronto emcees, Benoit, Heather and Tania who pulled double duty hosting in both cities.

Thank you again to everyone who participated and to our generous corporate partners. We hope to see all of you out again next year!

National Suppliers

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Real Estate Hour Corporate Supporters

Avison Young

BMO Private Equity Fund Canada

Canderel

Davies

Epic Investment Services

First Gulf

Forest Contractors

GWL Realty Advisors

JLL

OleaDev Real Estate Group

Triovest

Corporate Champion

Supra ITS

From September 9-13^th, 2024, scientists, healthcare professionals, and the diabetes community from around the world gathered in Madrid, Spain for the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual conference. The event was attended by researchers, clinicians, pharmaceutical and device companies, regulators and leaders in the diabetes field from more than 120 countries, and featured presentations on type 1 diabetes (T1D) from many researchers funded both by JDRF Canada and our global affiliates.

Below are a few of the highlights.

Cures Research

Canadian company Sernova (London, ON) reported on their Cell Pouch System – an encapsulation device that acts like a “teabag” for cadaveric donor islets to be transplanted into people with T1D. Multiple cohorts of people have had the pouch implanted and, notably, the first patient has had the pouch for longer than 5 –years. The interim results have demonstrated safety (no adverse events to the pouch) and efficacy (islets are receiving blood flow and functioning). These clinical trials are still ongoing in Chicago, IL, and an additional cohort is expected to begin before the end of 2024. 

To read more about cell therapy and encapsulation, please visit https://breakthrought1d.ca/cell-therapy/.

Dr. Timothy Kieffer of the University of British Columbia (UBC), and a project lead at the JDRF Centre of Excellence at UBC, presented on the safety and potential of stem cell-derived islet products. He outlined a long list of considerations in ensuring the safety of stem cell-derived islets, from the initial cell line (the original cells that are used to create islets) to the importance of patient choice. This talk was promising but realistic – noting that there are still many nuances that need to be addressed before cell therapy is a reality for the majority of people living with T1D.

To read more about cell therapy and ongoing stem cell research, please visit https://breakthrought1d.ca/cell-therapy/.

Disease-Modifying Therapies Research

The Joslin Diabetes Centre (Boston, MA) presented fascinating research from their Medalist Study of people living with T1D for 50+ years! In a study of 245 medalists, just over 30% had detectable levels of C-peptide, which is a biomarker for insulin production from beta cells. We know from years of research that some people with long-standing T1D still have functional beta cells and may still even be producing insulin (at very low levels), but it’s remarkable to see such results in a large cohort of people with T1D for 50+ years. This evidence supports the basis for beta cell regeneration approaches – that is, that in many people with T1D there are still insulin-producing cells that could proliferate (regrow more cells) with the right therapy.

Lindsay Pallo and Dr. Bruce Verchere, researchers at the JDRF Centre of Excellence at UBC, presented preliminary evidence of their immunotherapy work that is being conducted in collaboration with Vancouver-based Integrated Nanotherapeutics. This work is using an approach based on mRNA-containing lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) – the same type of technology used in COVID-19 mRNA-based vaccines. The new approach involves LNPs that contain T1D-relevant proteins plus immunomodulatory drugs, which the researchers’ data showed can prevent the onset of T1D in mice – and may even reverse established T1D. This type of immunotherapy could reduce or prevent further beta cell autoimmune attack, thereby preserving the ability to produce insulin and stopping T1D in its tracks.

Improving Lives Research

Researchers from McGill University, led by Dr. Ahmad Haidar, shared positive results from a small 4-week long study examining the use of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, sold under the trade name of Ozempic or Wegovy, in people with T1D using an automated insulin delivery (AID) system. Semaglutide has been shown to be effective at improving glucose and weight management in individuals living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity, but clinical trials for T1D are more limited. Graduate student Linden Perz reported that semaglutide improved glucose control in people with T1D using an AID system by increasing time in range and lowering time in hyperglycemia. Importantly, there was no increase in time in hypoglycemia and weight and insulin doses both decreased.

In cardiovascular research, Roberta Lupoli from Naples, Italy presented data showing that poorer vascular function is linked to increased time above range—and that three months on an AID system lowers time above range and improves endothelial function (the cells that line blood vessels and the heart).

Bayer’s FINEARTS-HF study results were discussed from a pivotal trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the oral medication finerenone in patients with heart failure (both with and without T1D and T2D). Finerenone showed statistically significant improvement in cardiovascular outcomes in adults with heart failure. Finerenone (AKA Kerendia) is currently approved for kidney disease in T2D and is under investigation for kidney disease in T1D.

This is welcome news for a few reasons. First, more drugs are needed for people with cardiovascular disease and T1D as this is the most common cause of death and disability in people with the condition. Secondly, finerenone is approved in Canada for use in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and kidney disease in T2D—but not T1D. The inclusion of people with T1D in the Finerenone (FINE-ONE) study is significant. Breakthrough T1D Headquarters (formerly JDRF International) and JDRF Canada applaud the initiative and encourage anyone living with T1D and chronic kidney disease to consider participating in the trial (LINK).

Research carried out at the University of Dundee has revealed that fear of hypoglycemia is a major barrier to physical activity among adults with T1D, despite advances in glucose monitoring and insulin therapy. The study highlights that improved education and discussions about safe exercise management in clinical settings could help address these fears. Participants who understood how to manage insulin and carbohydrate intake before and after exercise were less fearful of hypoglycemia, suggesting that better conversations in clinic could help people feel more confident exercising. 

Find out more about type 1 and exercise. 

https://youtu.be/BMwWs04ir7I?si=GK9LAC44_8FdcdLp (EN)

https://youtu.be/dtYjGXYFD9g?si=JXgI07jV3YXNZvl3 (FR)

Lastly, several presentations focused on the transformative power of medical devices to improve the lives of those living with T1D.

Among these presentations was a talk from Dr. Thomas Danne, Chief Medical Officer of Breakthrough T1D Headquarters (formerly JDRF International), who discussed the transformative nature of AID systems, (which Breakthrough T1D HQ played a significant role in developing through research and advocacy). These systems are still underutilized worldwide for a variety of reasons. However, diabetes technology is not a cure now, and it will not be in the future. Disease-modifying and cell therapies are going to be the advances that allow us to walk away from this disease for good.

New technology has been transformational—and it will continue to get better—but more people need access to it, and earlier. Diabetes technology will not cure this disease. But it does have the potential to keep people healthy so they can take advantage of cures when they are realized.

JDRF Canada is pleased to share that our US affiliate Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF, headquartered in the US) has awarded an Industry Drug and Development Grant to Integrated Nanotherapeutics (“INT”, Vancouver, BC).  Founded by academic scientists, including Dr. Bruce Verchere – lead of the JDRF Centre of Excellence at UBC – INT is a biotechnology company that is focused on treatments for autoimmune diseases.

INT’s first asset focuses on type 1 diabetes and aims to “train” the immune system not to attack its own cells via a “tolerizing” therapeutic.  This is done with a combination “vaccine-like” product that uses their proprietary multi-cargo lipid nanoparticles platform to co-deliver mRNA expressing antigens (to find the autoimmune antibodies) and small molecule immunomodulators (to reprogram self-attacking immune cells).

T1D is an autoimmune disease where immune cells mistakenly attack the cells in the pancreas responsible for producing insulin. Part of JDRF Canada and its global affiliates’ research strategy, (including Breakthrough T1D in the United States) is identifying when this autoimmune process takes place and ideally stopping it before it can start.

INT’s development of an immune tolerizing therapeutic designed to train the immune system not to attack its own cells is now supported by an award from Breakthrough T1D under its Industry Discovery and Development Partnership (IDDP) program.

The research project will explore the use of INT’s proprietary technology platform, which employs multi-cargo lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver multiple antigens using mRNA, along with immune-modifying small molecules, to re-train the immune system.

In T1D, immune cells incorrectly recognize self-antigens made by insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas as a threat, resulting in the attack and loss of these cells, eventually requiring anyone with the disease to need an external source of insulin, administered daily either by multiple daily injection, pen or pump. By co-delivering beta cell self-antigens and immune-modifying molecules that induce immune protection rather than attack, it may be possible to preserve the remaining beta cells in someone with T1D and stop the progression of disease. This is y known as “tolerization”.

INT’s approach aims to provide a tolerizing therapy that doesn’t require frequent treatment administration, and without the need for chronic immune suppression, which puts people receiving the treatment at risk for developing infections and other illnesses.

INT’s collaboration with Breakthrough T1D, the American affiliate of JDRF Canada, further bolsters the company’s focus on T1D for this groundbreaking technology.

This is an example of research moving from academia to industry, with its roots at the JDRF Centre of Excellence at the University of British Columbia.

“JDRF fellowships transformed my scientific career, empowering me to pursue my research ideas, connect with the T1D community and ultimately propelled me onto a career path of innovation with the goal of improving the lives of people living with T1D,” says Heather Denroche, PhD, Director of Preclinical Development, Integrated Nanotherapeutics, Inc. and past holder of a JDRF Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship.

JDRF Canada is excited to see this research being conducted out of Canada and will provide more updates as they become available.