The final steps have been taken, the fundraising totals are nearly in, and another incredible Breakthrough T1D Walk season is in the books.
Throughout spring and early summer 2026, communities across Canada came together to raise funds, share experiences, and show what is possible when people unite behind a common cause. Whether participants walked in person, supported a team, volunteered, donated, or took part in a Walk Your Way event, every contribution helped move us closer to a world without type 1 diabetes (T1D).
More than a fundraiser
For many participants, the Walk is about something even bigger than fundraising. It’s about finding people who understand.
One participant shared:
“Thank you for this wonderful event. It was my first time with you. I haven’t felt this confident and at peace since I was diagnosed three years ago. Connecting with people like you is incredibly important—it reminds me that I’m not alone in this journey and that there is so much support available.“
Another told us:
“Seeing my daughter smile and meet other people and kids with T1D so that she knows she is not alone.“
Those moments are what make Breakthrough T1D Walk so special. Whether you were attending for the first time or returning as a long-time supporter, you helped create a welcoming community where no one has to face T1D alone.
A movement powered by community
This year’s Walk season brought together families, teams, volunteers, and supporters in communities across Canada. From first-time participants to dedicated fundraisers who have been walking for years, every person played a role in making this year’s campaign a success.
The energy at Walks across the country was unforgettable: team spirit, family fun, new friendships, inspiring stories, and countless reminders of the strength and resilience of the T1D community.
Most importantly, every step taken helps drive progress toward a world without T1D. Breakthrough T1D Walk supports life-changing research, advocacy efforts that improve access to care and technology, and programs that connect and support people living with T1D.
Thank you to our sponsors and partners
We are deeply grateful to the inspiring volunteers and Walk Ambassadors who contribute their expertise and lived experience to make Walk a success. Walk simply wouldn’t happen without you!
Thank you also to the national and local sponsors, corporate partners, healthcare partners, and community supporters whose generosity helped make this year’s Walk season possible.
Their commitment helps create meaningful Walk experiences for participants while advancing Breakthrough T1D’s mission to improve lives today and tomorrow through life-changing T1D breakthroughs.
Thank you for standing with the T1D community.
See you in 2027
If you’ve never attended a Breakthrough T1D Walk before, we invite you to join us for one of our eight Walks this September or next year. Click here to find a Walk near you! Whether you live with T1D, love someone who does, or simply want to make a difference, there’s a place for you in this community.
Because when we come together, we don’t just walk.
We create hope. We accelerate progress. We help make T1D a part of history.
Interest in cell therapies for type 1 diabetes (T1D) is growing, but most people still don’t have enough information to fully understand their options.
Today, islet replacement therapies are available in clinical practice to only those with the most severe T1D, and newer therapies are being investigated in a small number of people through clinical trials. But research is advancing quickly, and there is growing optimism about what may be possible in the coming years for more people with T1D.
In a recent survey, we heard both hope and hesitation. When people learned more about how cell therapies work, interest increased, showing how important clear and trustworthy information is.
People affected by T1D want to know: Will it work? Is it safe? What are the trade-offs? And, most importantly, what could this mean for daily life with T1D?
Why cell therapies matter for people with T1D
Living with T1D means constant decisions – balancing insulin, food, activity, and the risk of highs and lows. Even with today’s tools, the burden is real.
Cell therapies aim to replace the insulin-producing cells the body has lost. While these approaches are still in development and not yet widely available, they raise an important question: could they one day reduce the day-to-day impact of T1D?
What the T1D community told us
Between September and October 2025, we surveyed 399 adults living with T1D and 172 caregivers and supporters of people aged 16+ with T1D.
We asked about awareness, openness, and what matters most when considering new treatments.
People are interested but want more information before making decisions.
Awareness is still low, but grows with access to information
Only about one-third of respondents from a general T1D sample said they were familiar with cell therapies.
Among people connected to Breakthrough T1D, familiarity was much higher, showing the impact of trusted, accessible information.
Why information matters: it changes decisions
After reading a short explanation of cell therapies, openness to considering them increased from 47% to 57%. Curious what changed perspectives? Here’s the short explanation we shared:
“Islet replacement therapies (also known as cell therapies) for T1D aim to replace glucose-sensing, insulin-producing cells that are destroyed in a person with T1D by implanting ‘new’ islet cells into the body. Islets are the clusters of cells within the pancreas that secrete hormones. They are comprised primarily of beta cells, which secrete insulin in response to glucose. For the past 2 decades, islet therapies have been performed using islets retrieved from deceased individuals that have donated their pancreas. Although it is a quick, non-invasive procedure, people that undergo this procedure require immunosuppression to maintain cell function, just as any other organ transplant would. At the current time, these cell therapies are limited to individuals with the most severe cases of T1D. However, this is a fast-moving area of research and clinical trials are ongoing for next-generation cell therapies using islets created in the lab from stem cells, and research is looking at new ways to reduce or remove the need for systemic (general, whole-body) immunosuppression.”
When people understand their options, they feel more confident exploring them, even at an early stage of development.
What are cell therapies?
Cell therapies aim to replace insulin-producing cells destroyed in T1D by introducing new islet cells into the body.
Today:
These therapies are only available in limited situations, primarily through clinical trials and for a small number of individuals with the most severe cases of T1D
Most approaches use donor cells, however lab-grown cells are becoming more common
Immunosuppressant medications are typically required
Looking ahead:
Researchers are developing lab-grown cells (from stem cells)
New approaches aim to reduce or eliminate immunosuppression
This is a rapidly evolving area of research, but it is not yet a widely available treatment option.
Why people are interested in cell therapies
People told us these therapies could:
make everyday life with T1D easier
reduce the constant mental load
improve long-term health outcomes
offer new and innovative options
For many, even the possibility of reducing daily burden is meaningful.
What concerns people
People also shared important concerns, including:
wanting more research and long-term evidence
the need for immunosuppressant medications
feeling their current management is working well
age or other health considerations
These reflect the real-world trade-offs people weigh every day, especially for treatments that are still emerging.
What people need to know before deciding
Before considering cell therapies, people want clear answers to practical questions:
How effective is it?
What are the risks of immunosuppression?
How long do results last?
What are the costs?
Is it safe?
People are looking for clarity, not just hope.
Where people get trusted information
People rely on:
healthcare providers (67%)
diabetes research and advocacy organizations (58%)
online research (41%)
Those connected to the T1D community are especially likely to turn to organizations like Breakthrough T1D, reinforcing the need for clear, credible information.
What this means for the future
Awareness of cell therapies is still growing but interest is there, especially when people have access to the right information.
Today, access remains very limited and largely confined to clinical trials. But progress in this field is moving quickly, and there is cautious optimism that these therapies could become more widely available in the coming years.
At Breakthrough T1D, we are focused on three things:
Supporting research to develop and test cell therapies
helping the T1D community understand what’s coming and what it means
working to ensure that, when these therapies are ready, people who could benefit can access them
Breakthrough T1D is not only committed to educating the T1D community but is also expanding our work in Medical Affairs to educate Canadian healthcare providers about emerging therapies and clinical trials in Canada.
We will continue to share clear, balanced information so people can make informed decisions and feel confident navigating what comes next.
This initiative was sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The sponsor had no influence on the survey design, delivery, analysis, or any other aspect of this research. All findings reflect the independent conclusions of Breakthrough T1D Canada.
Researchers this week have reported encouraging new results from an early clinical trial testing gene-edited islet cells in a single adult with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Sweden. More than 14 months after transplantation, the participant is still producing insulin and has done so without immunosuppressants.
The therapy uses islet cells from an organ donor that have then been genetically modified to help them avoid attack by the immune system. Researchers found that the transplanted cells remained alive and functional (i.e., sensing glucose and making insulin), with no severe safety concerns reported during the study.
While these results come from just one participant and the research is still in its early stages, they provide an important proof of concept. One of the biggest challenges in developing cell therapies for T1D is protecting transplanted cells from immune attack without requiring lifelong immunosuppression. This approach could help overcome that barrier.
Breakthrough T1D has been proud to support Sana’s research through the T1D Fund, made possible by the generosity of our donors. Their support helps advance promising therapies like this one and accelerate progress toward cures for T1D.
Sana Biotechnology plans to build on these findings in a new clinical trial using stem cell-derived islet cells, which could make future therapies more scalable and accessible.
At Breakthrough T1D Canada, we’re excited to see this progress and hopeful that the next clinical trial will open soon, including at sites in Canada. Advances like this bring us one step closer to a future where cell therapies can restore insulin production and reduce the burden of living with T1D.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions are one of the world’s largest gatherings of diabetes researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders. More than 11,000 people came together in June 2026 to share the latest progress.
Here’s what matters most for our community.
What you need to know (30 seconds)
Progress in type 1 diabetes (T1D) is accelerating across multiple fronts, including cell therapies, immune therapies, technology and mental health.
Some early studies show that cell therapies could one day reduce or even eliminate the need for insulin for some people.
Researchers are working on treatments that target the root cause of T1D, not just blood sugar management.
Earlier detection and screening are expanding and could help delay or prevent T1D in the future.
Technology is improving daily life, but gaps remain, especially around preventing serious complications like diabetic ketoacidosis.
Canadian researchers and the Breakthrough T1D community are helping drive this progress forward.
Many scientific breakthroughs are coming together to improve daily life and bring us closer to cures.
Cell therapies: Moving closer to life beyond insulin
Why this matters
Cell therapies aim to replace the insulin-producing cells the body has lost. One day, this could mean fewer injections, or even the possibility of not needing insulin at all.
What’s new
At ADA 2026, cell therapies were a major focus.
Dr. Trevor Reichman (University of Toronto) chaired a key session on how to bring manufactured islet cell therapies to more people.
Dr. Sanjoy Dutta (Breakthrough T1D) highlighted the need to include the T1D community in how these therapies are developed and approved. In Canada, our efforts to make sure this happens are called Project ACT.
Researchers emphasized that current clinical trials are too limited, and expanding access will be critical.
A study using a new immunotherapy approach made by Eledon Pharmaceuticals showed that all 12 participants receiving islet transplants were able to stop using insulin, with no severe safety concerns reported.
There is also a strong focus on overcoming key barriers, especially reducing or eliminating the need for lifelong immunosuppression.
Canada & Breakthrough T1D in action
Dr. Alice Carr (University of Alberta) is leading Breakthrough T1D-funded research to understand who is most likely to benefit from islet transplants and how to improve outcomes
Pediatric perspectives were also highlighted by Dr. Brynn Marks (Breakthrough T1D), with contributions from Dr. Melena Bellin and Dr. Laura Jacobsen on what cell therapies could mean for children
These advances are being made possible because of the support of the Breakthrough T1D community – people living with T1D, families, and donors – who make this research possible.
Disease-modifying therapies: Treating the root cause
Why this matters
Researchers are developing therapies that target the immune system earlier in the disease, offering a way to slow or halt T1D progression.
Dr. Christoph Bausch (SAB Biotherapeutics) presented early clinical trial results for a therapy (SAB‑142) that improved time in range, reduced insulin use and may be safely re-dosed, opening the door to longer-lasting effects.
What’s new
This signals a major shift from managing T1D to changing how the disease progresses, which could fundamentally improve outcomes.
Canada & Breakthrough T1D in action
Breakthrough T1D, with the support of its community, is helping fund and advance these therapies through its research and investment efforts.
This work is helping move us closer to earlier intervention and, ultimately, prevention.
Reduce the risk of serious complications at diagnosis
Allow earlier access to therapies that may delay progression
What’s new
Screening programs are expanding globally using blood tests that detect early markers of T1D
Dr. Holly O’Donnell (Barbara Davis Center) presented research showing that families need clear, ongoing support when learning about T1D risk and that better understanding can also increase anxiety if not handled carefully.
Dr. Anastasia Albanese-O’Neill (Breakthrough T1D) shared emerging global recommendations for screening and emphasized the importance of participating in clinical trials.
Dr. Raquel Lopez Diez (Breakthrough T1D) is helping lead international collaboration on genetic risk scoring to better understand who is most at risk.
Canada & Breakthrough T1D in action
Canada is advancing toward wider screening through CanScreen T1D.
Breakthrough T1D-funded research is also helping address the emotional impact of early detection on families.
Technology: Making daily life easier while closing gaps
Why this matters
Technology has transformed how many people manage T1D, but there’s still work to do to make it accessible, simple, and safe for everyone.
What’s new
Automated insulin delivery (AID) systems continue to expand into more real-world settings.
In Canada, clinical practice guidelines now recommend AID systems for all people with T1D who are able to use them.
New innovations like continuous ketone monitoring are beginning to emerge, offering a future where ketone monitoring is as easy as continuous glucose monitoring.
Researchers acknowledged that technology also comes with trade-offs, including alarm fatigue, data overload, and emotional burden.
Canada & Breakthrough T1D in action
Dr. Alanna Weisman (Sinai Health, Toronto) is leading Breakthrough T1D-funded research to understand why some people face barriers to accessing diabetes technology, especially in underserved communities.
This research supports Breakthrough T1D’s work to ensure equitable access to technology across Canada.
Adjunct therapies: Expanding treatment options
Why this matters
Insulin is essential but it may not be the only tool in the future. Additional therapies could help improve overall health and outcomes.
What’s new
Researchers are studying medications like GLP‑1 therapies in people with T1D, especially youth.
These therapies may help with blood sugar management, weight management, long-term heart health (still being studied) and more.
Future care will likely be more personalized, combining insulin, technology, and other therapies based on individual needs.
Canada & Breakthrough T1D in action
Breakthrough T1D, with the support of the community, continues to invest in research that expands treatment options and improves quality of life for people living with T1D.
Living well with T1D isn’t just about blood sugar. Emotional health matters too, and new tools are making support easier to reach.
What’s new
New digital tools are emerging to close this gap, making peer-led mental health support easier to reach.
Canada & Breakthrough T1D in action
Dr. Tricia Tang (University of British Columbia) is leading Breakthrough T1D- funded research on REACHOUT, a mobile app that connects adults with T1D to peer-led mental health support. It’s available anytime, day or night, tailored to each person’s needs, and delivered by a peer they choose.
In her study, people who used REACHOUT for six months saw greater improvements in their mental health than those still waiting to access it. Full results are expected soon.
Dr. Tang presented results of the wait-list, randomized control trial – meaning that anyone who participated in the trial was randomly selected to either receive the peer support immediately or were put on a waitlist and still answered surveys about their mental health while waiting for access to the REACHOUT app. This style of study allows for all interested participants to access the tool (albeit at various times) but also provides control data to compare to. Using the REACHOUT app for 6 months was successful in improving mental health outcomes compared to those not using the app on the waitlist. The full results are expected to be published
What this all means for our community
ADA 2026 made one thing clear: progress in T1D is not coming from just one breakthrough, but from many advances happening at the same time.
Together, these advances are:
Improving daily life
Reducing the burden of T1D
Bringing us closer to cures
And, importantly, this progress is powered by you.
Through advocacy, participation in research, fundraising, and lived experience, the Breakthrough T1D community is helping drive every step forward.
A new Breakthrough T1D-funded clinical trial led by Drs. Ahmad Haidar and Melissa-Rosina Pasqua (McGill University), is exploring whether tirzepatide, a commonly used medication for type 2 diabetes, can improve automated insulin delivery (AID) systems.
What is tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide is a type of adjunct-to-insulin therapy for diabetes called GLP-1RAs, short for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. GLP-1RAs allows the pancreas to better respond to GLP-1 hormone signals that are released after eating. This hormone helps to manage blood glucose and weight gain by suppressing the release of glucagon, stimulating insulin production (in non-T1D individuals), and slowing the rate at which the stomach empties thereby reducing appetite and increasing the sensation of being full.
Tirzepatide is currently approved by Health Canada for use in type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro) and weight management (Zepbound) but is currently not approved for use with T1D.
What is Dr. Haidar’s trial examining?
Drs. Haidar and Pasqua’s Breakthrough T1D-funded trial will examine if tirzepatide can help improve glucose management for people with T1D using Automated insulin delivery (AID) systems.
AID (or hybrid closed loop) systems consist of an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that are connected via an algorithm to automatically adjust insulin delivery based on blood glucose levels. However, most current systems are still considered “hybrid” because users must manually count carbohydrates and deliver insulin boluses before meals. This step remains one of the most burdensome parts of diabetes management.
This new study aims to take the next step forward: enabling fully closed-loop insulin delivery, where the system manages glucose control entirely on its own, without requiring users to announce meals or count carbohydrates. The trial will assess if tirzepatide can help achieve this goal.
How will tirzepatide replace or reduce meal announcements and carb counting?
With current AID systems, meal-time insulin dosing remains necessary because of a mismatch in timing:
Glucose from food enters the bloodstream quickly
Insulin delivered under the skin acts more slowly
This delay leads to post-meal (post-prandial) spikes in blood glucose levels if meal boluses are not given in advance. Tirzepatide works to address the timing mismatch by:
Slowing gastric emptying which delays how quickly glucose enters the bloodstream
Supressing glucagon (a hormone that raises blood glucose) which will help reduce post-meal spikes
Reducing appetite which lowers food intake and daily insulin requirements
Together, these effects may reduce the mismatch between food absorption and insulin action, making it easier for an automated system to maintain stable glucose levels without manual intervention.
The study will involve 105 adults using the Tandem Control-IQ technology, a commercial AID system. In the initial study stage, all participants will use the pump in its hybrid mode, which still requires users to manually give themselves insulin bolus doses before meals. In the final weeks of the study, participants taking tirzepatide will switch to a fully automated (“closed loop”) mode, where the system manages insulin delivery without these manual meal boluses.
This study will be conducted in collaboration with the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) (Rémi Rabasa-Lhoret, MD, PhD) and the University of Bern (Lia Bally, MD, PhD; Christoph Grani, MD, PhD; and Maricel Peters, MD, PhD).
Recently updated Clinical Practice Guidelines released by Diabetes Canada recommend that adjunctive therapies may be considered in adults with T1D, based on shared decision-making with the care provider.
The same updated guidelines also recommended that insulin be delivered ideally by an insulin pump integrated with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) in an AID system and that these devices be offered to all individuals with T1D, provided they are willing to wear the device and operate it.
To cure type 1 diabetes (T1D), we need to do two things: we need to address the autoimmune response that damages insulin-producing beta cells, and we need to replace lost beta cells to restore the ability to produce insulin.
Beta cells are found in clusters of multiple cell types in the pancreas. These clusters are called the islets of Langerhans – or islets for short. In order to understand how to protect and replace islets, we need to know as much about ‘healthy’ islets as possible and why they are destroyed in someone with T1D. Since islets can’t be studied within the body and islets can’t be donated by a living donor, researchers rely greatly on islets that are isolated from cadaveric pancreas donors.
Dr. Patrick MacDonald of the University of Alberta is a world leader in coordinating global islet samples and data for researchers, while fostering national training opportunities. Dr. MacDonald directs the Alberta Diabetes Institute (ADI) IsletCore, the world’s largest ‘single source’ of human pancreas research tissue.
“Our goal with the ADI IsletCore, and other efforts we are involved in, is to elevate diabetes and transplantation research across Canada and internationally. With human research tissue we feel it is essential to share experimental results widely, to honour the selfless gifts of organ donors and to benefit the entire diabetes community,” says Dr. MacDonald.
ADI IsletCore in Canada
ADI IsletCore isolates and ships islets and pancreas tissue to a network of nearly 200 research labs around the world. With nearly 50 pancreas donors in 2025, they were able to distribute almost 7 million islet equivalent cells to researchers, bringing their grand total to 75 million islet equivalents distributed to date. This translates into over 300 scientific papers crediting ADI IsletCore for research support.
Islet database
With support from the Breakthrough T1D-CIHR Partnership to Defeat Diabetes, Dr. MacDonald and his team have developed a groundbreaking online database cataloguing the molecular, cellular, and physiological functions of islets from human organ donors acquired through ADI IsletCore.
HumanIslets.com allows researchers worldwide to explore islet function, proteins, and pathways comparing between donors with and without diabetes. They have leveraged this work for an additional $1.8M of funding including a Breakthrough T1D International grant for $750k to expand the platform to include stem cell-derived islets and integrate AI and machine learning into the analysis.
Dr. MacDonald’s research has significantly advanced cure research for T1D by integrating massive datasets from hundreds of human donors and making this resource publicly accessible.
International collaboration
Dr. MacDonald is now sharing his expertise internationally through collaboration on development of islet distribution centres.
In April 2026, Australia launched its first national Breakthrough T1D-funded islet distribution centre, which is critical given Australia’s remote location and need to collect local tissue for research. Dr. MacDonald is advising on this important new islet centre, that will further improve both global collaboration and our understanding of human islets.
In addition to his partnership in Australia, Dr. MacDonald is also collaborating on islet distribution programs in Michigan, USA and Sweden to further support a worldwide connected research network. He has recently published a paper in Diabetologia about coordinating global efforts to advance islet research through shared resources.
Training emerging leaders
Not only does Dr. MacDonald oversee IsletCore and run an active research lab, he also co-founded, and was the initial leadership group chair of, the Canadian Islet Research and Training Network (CIRTN). The CIRTN is a world-leading islet research and training network in Canada that looks to build upon Canada’s reputation for excellence in islet biology research by facilitating the exchange of information and ideas with in-person and virtual scientific meetings, enhancing mentorship and trainee career development, and promoting engagement and collaboration amongst islet researchers in Canada and worldwide. Breakthrough T1D has been pleased to collaborate with CIRTN to co-fund four cohorts of trainees. Dr. MacDonald’s work is a crucial piece of the puzzle understanding stem-cell derived islets and demonstrates the power of global collaboration, a key tenet of Breakthrough T1D’s research strategy. His contributions are getting us closer to being able to produce these cells at scale and to Canadians with T1D.
To every delegate who walked the halls of Parliament this year, this blog is for you.
T1D on the Hill 2026 was about more than meetings and metrics. It was about people. It was about families, kids, parents, adults living with type 1 diabetes, and the shared belief that progress happens when we show up together.
And show up you did.
May 4, 2026: Breakthrough T1D members on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Photo by Dave Chan.
On May 4th and 5th, 28 delegates from across Canada met with Members of Parliament, Senators, and senior staff. In total, 49 parliamentarians engaged with Breakthrough T1D Canada and learned about the Breakthrough T1D Network Canada. We can confirm, the reception to our message was overwhelmingly positive.
What made the difference was you.
Delegates spoke with confidence, clarity, and heart. You shared personal stories that brought the realities of type 1 diabetes into sharp focus. You explained why 2026 is a critical moment for research and access. You showed decision-makers that T1D is not abstract or theoretical. It is something families live with every single day.
The feedback we heard again and again was that the message was clear and compelling. Parliamentarians appreciated the materials you shared, the focused ask, and the fact that everything fit into a meaningful conversation. Many asked thoughtful questions. Many requested follow-ups. And many committed to helping move this work forward.
There were real and tangible wins. We secured commitments from MPs and Senators to champion the Breakthrough T1D Network Canada internally and we identified strong allies across parties. We saw statements made publicly in the House of Commons and the Senate. We opened doors with central agencies and built new connections that will support the path ahead.
May 4, 2026: Breakthrough T1D members on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Photo by Dave Chan.
These outcomes matter, but they only happened because our delegates were prepared, supported, and brave enough to speak from experience. Kids and their parents spoke not only about their daily challenges, but about why a cure matters to their future. Adults living with T1D spoke about the daily mental and physical load of managing this disease, the financial burden, but they also shared how a cure would impact their lives. Together, you struck a balance between policy and humanity that left a lasting impression.
One of the most powerful moments of the week came at our reception. More than 90 people filled the room, including over 20 MPs and Senators. The energy was unmistakable. Conversations flowed easily. Parliamentarians stayed, listened, and engaged. It was a clear signal that when our community gathers, people pay attention.
May 4, 2026: Breakthrough T1D members on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Photo by Dave Chan.
This year also marked an important evolution for T1D on the Hill. With new Breakthrough T1D branding, a more centralized government relations approach, and board members working closely with delegates, the effort felt cohesive and purposeful. Kids and adults advocated side by side, showing that T1D affects every stage of life and that solutions must too.
There is still work ahead. Questions about research funding and science will continue. Follow-ups with offices and committees are already underway. But the momentum is real, and it was built by the collective effort of this community.
To our delegates: thank you for your time, your preparation, and your courage. Thank you for sharing your story and for lending your voice so that others living with type 1 diabetes may someday live with less burden, and eventually, without this disease.
T1D on the Hill 2026 reminded us of something powerful. When our community comes together, we don’t just ask to be heard. We are heard.
If you’d like to help keep this momentum going, we invite you to send a letter to your MP by clicking the link below. https://Advocacy.BreakthroughT1D.ca/page/188437/action/1 We’ll keep you updated on our progress in the months to come!
May 4, 2026: Breakthrough T1D members on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Photo by Dave Chan.
Building next-generation solutions for type 1 diabetes
Vancouver-based Aspect Biosystems recently announced a new $280 million partnership with the Government of Canada. Breakthrough T1D Canada’s Chief Scientific Officer, Sarah Linklater, spoke with Aspect’s Founder and CEO, Tamer Mohamed, about what the news means for the future of type 1 diabetes (T1D) treatment.
Sarah: For readers who may not be familiar with Aspect Biosystems, can you tell us what the company does and which health conditions you’re focused on?
Tamer: Aspect is pioneering what we call bioengineered cellular therapies. In simple terms, these are engineered cellular medicines designed to replace the function that’s lost because of disease—and without the need for long-term immune suppression.
Our main focus is on metabolic and endocrine diseases, with T1D being a major priority. We’re developing a stem cell-derived islet replacement therapy that aims to restore blood glucose control without requiring chronic immune suppression, which has long been one of the biggest challenges in this field.
We’re also applying our platform technology to other endocrine diseases, including primary adrenal insufficiency and other rare conditions. Across all of these areas, our goal is the same: to bring the full power of our platform to serious diseases that have been extremely difficult to treat—and develop curative medicines.
Sarah: Aspect recently announced major investments from the Government of Canada. What does this mean for the T1D community?
Tamer: Canada has a deep and proud history in diabetes research, including the discovery of insulin. More than 100 years later, this partnership is about Aspect Biosystems leading the next wave of curative medicines and building something truly generational, anchored in Canada.
In 2024, we launched a $200 million partnership with the governments of Canada and British Columbia to advance our platform and therapeutic pipeline. More recently, we’ve deepened our partnership with an additional $280 million project with the federal government to strengthen our clinical development capabilities and help us go the distance.
For the T1D community, this matters because it accelerates our ability to move therapies into advanced clinical development. It brings us closer to delivering curative medicines to people in Canada and around the world—and it does so by building a generational biotech company right here at home.
Sarah: Regenerative medicine is a rapidly evolving field, especially in T1D. What makes Aspect’s approach stand out?
Tamer: We have three elements that are essential to unlocking cellular therapies with curative potential without the need for chronic immune suppression. First, access to high-quality stem cell-derived islets. Second, best-in-class immune evasion technologies that protect those cells from the immune system. And third, the manufacturing required to scale these therapies.
We took a big step forward earlier this year in our partnership with Novo Nordisk to integrate key stem cell and hypoimmune cell engineering technologies under Aspect’s leadership. Combined with our recent federal investment, this gives us a real opportunity to develop therapies that could be transformative for people living with T1D.
Sarah: Looking ahead, how does Aspect plan to work with the T1D research and clinical community, including Breakthrough T1D?
Tamer: Partnership with the people we aim to serve is absolutely central to what we do. As we advance toward first-in-human studies, continuing to deepen our understanding of the patient experience becomes even more important.
From the early days, Breakthrough T1D played a role in shaping our path – we held an industry grant that enabled us to create a focus on T1D and, later, support from the T1D Fund. Our partnership with Breakthrough T1D was never just about capital. It was about shared mission, insight, connections, and learning.
We know the challenge ahead is enormous, and we’re humbled by it. But we’re committed. Our job isn’t done until we’ve made a real difference for people living with T1D—and we’re not going to rest until we do.
Guest post: Soundous Sellam, student living with type 1 diabetes in Montreal
Living with T1D (type 1 diabetes)
I don’t wake up at night because of school stress. I wake up because my sugar dropped, again. It’s 3 am and I have to shove food in my mouth, trying to convince my body not to give up on me. The quiet of the house makes the beeping of my glucose monitor feel deafening and strangely unreal. It’s such a weird reality.
People hear “diabetes” and picture an older person told to stop eating sugar. That’s type 2. I have type 1. I didn’t get this because of what I ate or how I lived. My own immune system destroyed the cells in my pancreas that produce insulin, leaving me to manage something my body can no longer do for me. My pancreas became a battlefield, and my immune system, once protector, turned into the invader, devouring the cells I needed to survive. It felt as if my own body had mistaken its organs for enemies. It tore through the cells that once worked tirelessly for me.
I was diagnosed in May 2022. The doctors told me my blood sugar was 26 mmol/L which is dangerously high. I was on the edge of life and death, nearly in diabetic ketoacidosis. Suddenly, I had to grow up faster than anyone else. I had to learn to inject myself, count carbs with precision, carry supplies everywhere, and cover bruises from needles and sensors. Even when I slept, even when I was sick or exhausted, the calculations never stopped. I had to care for myself constantly because if I didn’t, the consequences could be immediate or long-term, from passing out to risking damage to my heart, eyes, and kidneys.
When I was diagnosed, I didn’t want my parents to carry the weight of my illness for me. I didn’t want to wake them up in the middle of the night every time my sugar dropped or see the worry etched into their faces every time I checked my numbers. So, I stood up for myself. I learned to inject insulin, count carbs, and manage my highs and lows on my own. It wasn’t just about independence it was about protecting them from the fear that came with every spike and crash. In taking responsibility for my own care, I discovered a resilience I didn’t know I had. I don’t vent to them, I don’t stress them out with the endless calculations, the beeping monitors, the sudden lows that knock me off my feet. I keep it all to myself. It’s a quiet burden, one I carry so they don’t have to.
Sometimes it’s lonely, but in that silence, I’ve learned to listen to my body, to trust myself, and to stand on my own even when everything feels unpredictable. Managing diabetes became not just about survival, it became about proving to myself that I could handle whatever life threw at me.
It isn’t just the physical labor; it’s the mental weight. There’s a second voice in my head, always questioning, always calculating: Did I take enough insulin? Did I eat too much? Will I crash during my exam? Will someone think I’m exaggerating? It gets exhausting and it’s a daily pressure, like a hand pushing down on me, reminding me that I can never let my guard down.
Some nights, despite all my planning, my body still rebels. I wake up shaking, sweating, seeing stars, unable to even sit up. Every number feels like a puzzle, and the solution decides whether I feel okay or end up in the hospital. I learned to be responsible, to make the right decisions, and to carry the weight that those decisions can have, not just on myself, but on the people around me.
Every choice, from a small snack to a dose of insulin, is a lesson in accountability. It feels like solving equations that never end, numbers looping through my mind like an infinite maze. Diabetes taught me that my actions have consequences, and that taking ownership of them is both a challenge and a gift.
People tell me to “just accept it.” And sometimes, I have. Until I’m at the pharmacy, staring at a bag full of insulin, needles, and sensors and realize that this bag will never be empty. Not next month, not next year, not ever. I’ve accepted it… until I walk into a restaurant and see people eating without a second thought, no carb counting, no calculations, no fear. I’ve accepted it, until exhaustion and sugar swings make me snap at someone I love, and I wonder who that even was. Acceptance isn’t a box you check. It’s something you lose, and slowly find again.
Type 1 diabetes has taken a lot from me, but it has also given me more than I could have imagined. It has taught me discipline, patience, and self-awareness. It also made me more empathetic. Living with a constant, invisible shadow that walks beside men even when the sun is out, taught me that everyone is fighting their own battles, even when I can’t see them. I’ve learned to notice the small struggles, to listen, and to approach others with patience and understanding because I know what it feels like to carry a weight no one else can see.
And one day, I hope to use what I’ve learned to help others fight in the same way I’ve had to fight for myself. I want to be an anchor for others, someone they can rely on when life feels uncertain. Living with this disease has shown me the importance of steadiness, patience, and care not just for myself, but for the people around me. If I can offer support, understanding, or a calm presence to someone else, I know it can make a difference. I hope I’ll make that difference.
May is Mental Health Awareness month, an international movement dedicated to reducing stigma, providing education, and promoting mental health as a critical part of overall health and well-being. The month highlights the need for community support, early intervention, and professional resources for those challenged by mental health issues.
Having type 1 diabetes (T1D) affects a person’s emotional, social, and mental wellbeing throughout their lifetime, known collectively as psychosocial health.
Research has shown that people with T1D are at higher risk of mental health disorders including depression, anxiety and disordered eating. These challenges are common in people with T1D and can be treated – but only with the right resources that address the correct gaps in healthcare specific to diabetes.
Launched in 2021, Breakthrough T1D takes a three-pronged approach to its Mental Health Strategy: 1) enabling knowledge generation through new research, 2) delivering a training program for mental health providers, and 3) developing both new and ongoing community supports.
Since then, we have seen significant progress in all three key areas, thanks to the generous support of donors, as well as partnerships with academia, other diabetes organizations, and community partners.
We are pleased to share the updates to this program that have taken place since May, 2025.
Mental Health + Diabetes Training Program A training program specializing in type 1 and type 2 diabetes
We continued to deliver the Mental Health + Diabetes in both English and French, supporting registered mental health providers care providers to better understand the psychosocial impacts of diabetes.
This year, we developed a companion workbook to the e-learning that includes key takeaways from each module and includes thought-promoting questions. This workbook addresses feedback from learners that have completed the program, as this was a common request of participants.
We made updates and quality improvements to ensure the program remains relevant and evidence informed.
678 mental health providers completed this training as of May 1st 2026
Mental health providers who complete our training program are eligible to join our Directory of trained providers, allowing the the diabetes community to more easliy find providers in their communities.
We were very pleased to see consistent and continued growth of the Directory and we continued to work to increase the visibility of trained mental health providers across Canada.
We completed ongoing reviews and maintenance of the Directory to ensure listings remain accurate and useful for people living with diabetes and their caregivers.
The Directory now includes trained mental health providers who can provide care in all provinces and territories (please note for the territories they are currently offering virtual appointments and are cross-listed with other provinces).
244 mental health providers listed as of May 1, 2026
Research updates Current mental health research focuses on adolescents, young adults, and those facing care transitions or geographic barriers.
Projects funded in partnership with Brain Canada are developing and testing psychosocial interventions.
A randomized controlled trial, Teaching Adolescents with type 1 Diabetes Self-compassion (TADS) to reduce diabetes distress, led by Dr. Marie-Eve Robinson, Ontariodemonstrated that a mindful self‑compassion program significantly reduced diabetes distress, depression, anxiety, and disordered eating among youth. Full results from this completed study will be presented in 2026.
Dr. Tricia Tang, British Columbia uses a virtual care platform called REACHOUT to deliver peer‑led mental health support to adults with T1D across British Columbia. Participants in Dr. Tang’s recent trial showed reductions in diabetes distress and depressive symptoms, alongside increased perceived social support.
TECC-T1D3: Technology-enabled Comprehensive Care for young adults with Type 1 Diabetes and Diabetes Distress, a study led by Dr. Peter Selby, Ontario is using qualitative interviews to inform the design of a technology‑enabled care intervention for young adults experiencing diabetes distress, which is currently in the pilot phase.
Projects funded in partnership with CIHR address key life transitions and unmet psychosocial needs.
Aiming for Something Sweeter: Supporting Youth with Type 1 Diabetes During Transition from Pediatric to Adult Diabetes Care led by Dr. Sonia Butalia, Alberta is testing how to support youth transitioning from pediatric to adult diabetes care by integrating trained non‑medical transition coordinators into the health system.
Adaptation and Pilot Evaluation of a Digital Intervention Targeting the Psychosocial Needs of Individuals with Pregestational Diabetes: A Mixed-Methods Multi Phase Study led by Dr. Deborah Da Costa, Quebec is adapting the HealthyMoms digital platform to support the mental health needs of individuals with pre-gestational diabetes during pregnancy planning, pregnancy, and postpartum periods, with a trial planned for 2027.
Type 1 Diabetes, Exercise and Mentoring (TEAM) Trial: A randomized controlled pilot trial using peer mentorship to increase physical activity and quality of life in adolescents with type 1 diabetes led by Dr. Jon McGavock, Manitoba evaluates a peer‑mentorship model to increase physical activity, quality of life, and belonging among adolescents with T1D, with early feedback demonstrating meaningful benefits among participants.
Find Your CommuniT1D: Customized Virtual Peer Support for People Living with Type1 Diabetes. Dr. Holly Witteman, Quebec established a robust team of individuals with lived and loved experience of T1D as well as digital health experts to create CommuniT1D. The program launched in summer 2025 and are currently recruiting participants that are being placed in small groups based on similar circumstances or needs.
Updates on Community Grants An incubator initiative designed to provide seed funding to organizations ready to transform innovative ideas into successful projects to support the mental health and wellness of the T1D community.
Through their community grant support, the University of Montreal created videos in French with English subtitles about mental health and T1D, covering a range of important topics. These videos and more T1D specific mental health content are available on the Type 1 Better Support platform.
We also provided a top up grant to Connected in Motion, “Bridging the Gap: Mental Health Integration into Slipstream Programming,” wrapped up in February 2026, an extension and add on to the 2023 grant stream. With this support the organization built a new mental health hub: https://www.connectedinmotion.ca/mental-health-hub/, that expanded digital content and delivered mental health specific sessions at their virtual programming session. session.
The new Hub now brings together:
Community-written blogs and reflections on topics like burnout, identity, relationships, aging, and emotional resilience
Recorded virtual sessions exploring the mental side of living with type 1 diabetes
Community-created tools and gentle visual resources that support everyday well-being
Clear pathways to connect with others through events, groups, and additional supports
A 2026 funding opportunity has been announced and will be larger (up to $35,000 each) to allow for even more fulsome projects.
Expanded partnerships and community collaboration Working with the community to provide outreach and further fill gaps in community resources and care
Breakthrough T1D was pleased to launch a new partnership with You’re Just My Type (YJMT to provide more peer support opportunities, both virtually and in-person.
This partnership will bring two in-person events and one virtual event throughout 2026 – May 30th in Vancouver, Toronto in the autumn, and a virtual event later in the year. These will be YJMT’s first-ever Canadian events and will help to strengthen peer connection and community-driven mental health support for adults living with T1D.
This partnership reflects a shared commitment to meeting people where they are with relatable, accessible mental health resources.
We also continue to collaborate with Diabetes Canada on our Training Program and Directory, and thank them for their ongoing efforts to increase awareness and engagement of these initiatives.
Caregiver Support Recognizing an unaddressed need for parent and caregiver support.
We have also released a new Caregiver Guide for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents living with T1D. Based on a guide produced by Breakthrough T1D Australia, and with input from Canadian mental health providers and people with lived experience of T1D, we are pleased to release the updated Canadian guide for our audience.
We had frequent feedback that caregiver support was a significant need for the T1D community, and the new guide acts as a practical, compassionate resource to support parents and caregivers of children and youth living with T1D.
To further support T1D caregivers, we are planning virtual, interactive sessions for fall 2026. These facilitated sessions will aim to provide parents and caregivers of children and teens living with T1D with a supportive, interactive space to reflect on their experiences, build practical coping skills, and connect with others facing similar challenges.
Thank you to our community
Breakthrough T1D Canada remains enormously grateful for the support of our Mental Health Advisory Council, lead volunteers and philanthropic partners, including funding partners Brain Canada and CIHR, without whom our progress in this area would not be possible.
To keep informed of upcoming events with YJMT and the caregiver support sessions, please ensure you’re on our mailing list or follow our social media channels: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn
In March 2026, Breakthrough T1D Canada and You’re Just My Type (YJMT) announced a new partnership to build on lived experience support as part of the organization’s mental health and diabetes strategy.
You’re Just My Type is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the mental health of people living with T1D through in-person events, resources, and community-building.
The partnership with Breakthrough T1D will bring YJMT to Canadians, through free, in-person mental health events for adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D), taking place in Vancouver in May, in Toronto and an online event in November that will be available to anyone in Canada.
Breakthrough T1D had the opportunity to speak with YJMT founder Laura Pavlakovich about what motivated her to start her nonprofit, and her hopes for the expansion into Canadian communities.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I’ve lived with type 1 diabetes for nearly my entire life, and I’ve found that the mental toll can often be heavier than the physical. My background is in photojournalism, a path that took me all over the world and ignited my passion for storytelling and human connection. In 2016, I began combining these two worlds – photography and T1D – to share the stories of our community. That work eventually grew into You’re Just My Type, where we now focus on building mental-health-centered, peer-led spaces for those living with this condition.
What made you start You’re Just My Type?
You’re Just My Type grew out of realizing how much peer support and in-person community were missing in the Type 1 space. While the photo project began in 2016, it evolved into a formal organization in 2021 when I hosted our first in-person mental health event.
I kept thinking about what I wished I had growing up; diabetes camp was a lifesaver, but it only existed for one week a year. I wanted that support to be a year-round reality. Since 2021, we’ve hosted over 50 free events across multiple cities. It became clear that people don’t just need better tools—they need each other.
What makes you excited about the YJMT and Breakthrough T1D Canada partnership?
We hear from people in Canada all the time asking if we’ll ever bring You’re Just My Type there, so this partnership feels incredibly meaningful. Breakthrough T1D Canada is such a trusted and respected organization, and we share a fundamental belief that caring for people with type 1 means caring for their mental health, too. Partnering together makes it possible to reach more people and begin building community in new places in a thoughtful, sustainable way.
Why do you think it’s important for people to understand about mental health and Type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is a 24/7 mental experience, even when it looks “under control” from the outside. People often think Type 1 is easy because, as a community, we’ve learned how to make it look easy.
What they don’t see is the constant decision-making, the math, the planning, the sleepless nights, and the complete exhaustion that comes with managing a chronic illness every single day. Mental health support isn’t an optional “extra” in diabetes care; it is essential.
Any further message you want to share with the Canadian T1D community?
You’re not alone in this, even if it feels that way sometimes. You deserve spaces where you can be honest, imperfect, and fully understood. We are so excited to bring You’re Just My Type’s community-based events to Canada and build something alongside you. You belong here.
Learn more about You’re Just My Type at: https://www.yourejustmytype.org/ and further announcements about upcoming events by following Breakthrough T1D Canada on their social media channels.
There is a saying that many of us have heard soon after boarding a flight: “put your oxygen mask on first, before helping others,” a safety instruction when you’re on an airplane that acts as a metaphor for self-care. Simply put, it means taking care of your physical and emotional well-being before attempting to help others. Because if you don’t look after yourself first, it becomes much harder to look after anyone else.
For parents and caregivers of children and youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) it can feel difficult to put your mask on first. After a diagnosis of T1D, the focus will inevitably be on your child first and getting them through that acute phase of fear and uncertainty, before learning to navigate your new normal as a family with T1D.
But it’s essential to also take care of your health and well-being, even during the period immediately following diagnosis. T1D is a lifelong disease that requires 24/7 management without time off and with no breaks, and it can be relentless. Continually being in a state of high alert without self-care can lead to chronic stress and caregiver burnout.
Learning to recognize concerning effects on mental health and preventing them before they become serious is especially hard for parents of children with T1D, as they often feel their needs come secondary to those of their child’s.
“I felt overwhelmed by the complexity of managing the disease, along with a deep sadness for the carefree childhood I feared had been lost,” said Mina, a caregiver whose child was diagnosed at 10 years old.
Breakthrough T1D Canada heard from the community that there was a gap in caregiver support. Therefore, as part of its Mental Health Strategy, Breakthrough T1D Canada has launched a new Caregiver Guide to help address this underrepresented need.
Based on a guide produced by Breakthrough T1D Australia, and with input from Canadian mental health providers and people with lived experience of T1D, we are pleased to release the updated Canadian guide for our audience.
The Caregiver Guide is a thorough, chapter-based information guide that details the many different stages of caregiving, including:
The immediate aftermath of diagnosis
Transitional stages, (i.e. elementary school to middle school to high school)
When your child asserts independence in their T1D management
Impact on siblings
Different types of stress
Coping strategies
When to seek professional support and help, and much more.
We hope that it will be a useful, compassionate resource to help parents and caregivers of children and youth living with T1D.
“The T1D community became an extraordinary source of support on our journey. Connecting with other families, social workers, and accessing the resources available through Breakthrough T1D made an enormous difference for our family. Today, my son is doing wonderfully—happy, healthy, and thriving while managing T1D—and we remain deeply grateful for the community that helped us get here,” says Mina.
In fall 2026, to complement the Caregiver Guide, Breakthrough T1D is planning free, virtual, facilitated caregiver support sessions. These sessions will aim to provide parents and caregivers of children and teens living with T1D with a supportive, interactive space to reflect on their experiences, build practical coping skills, and connect with others facing similar challenges.
They will aim to translate key themes from the Caregiver Guide into practical, real-world reflection and discussion, encourage parents to seek help when needed, and to foster connections to mental health and peer supports.
The sessions will be in both English and French, with time for a question-and-answer period.
Putting your oxygen mask on first isn’t always easy, but it’s crucial that caregivers also prioritize their own health and well-being in order to best support a child with T1D. And Breakthrough T1D is here with resources to help support parents and other caregivers in their own personal journeys with T1D.
“In the hardest moments, what helped me most was realizing I didn’t have to do this alone… Asking for support is not a weakness, but a vital part of this journey,” says Miriam, whose child was diagnosed age 13.
