Breakthrough T1D’s largest advocacy event – Kids For a Cure was held from November 3rd to 5th 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!
From September 9-13th, 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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
New research finds that ustekinumab, a drug commonly used to treat psoriasis, may help children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes keep making insulin for longer.
Results from a clinical trial named USTEKID, published in the journal Nature Medicine, suggest that ustekinumab may be effective in treating the early stages of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents.
Protecting insulin-making cells
Co-funded by our JDRF affiliate in the UK, the study demonstrated that ustekinumab is effective in preserving the body’s ability to produce insulin in type 1 diabetes, bringing the goal of managing type 1 diabetes without insulin a step closer. After 12 months, the participants who were taking ustekinumab had C-peptide levels – a sign that the body is producing insulin – that were 49% higher than the group who were taking a placebo.
The study showed that ustekinumab reduced the destructive impact of specific immune cells on insulin-making beta cells. The drug treats the underlying immune process that causes type 1 diabetes, making it different from insulin injections that top up the lack of insulin for people with type 1.
Reducing the need for insulin
Dr Danijela Tatovic, who led the research project, said: “Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells of the body that produce insulin. This eventually leaves the person dependent on insulin injections. Researchers are now developing ways to slow or halt the immune system attack. If such treatments can be started early, before all the insulin-making cells are lost, this could prevent or reduce the need for insulin.”
The USTEKID clinical trial
Led by researchers at Cardiff University, the clinical trial tested ustekinumab in 72 young people between 12 and 18 years old who were within 100 days of being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. At universities and hospitals across the UK, the teenagers were given injections of either ustekinumab or a placebo seven times over 44 weeks. The participants also gave blood and urine samples and completed three short questionnaires.
In Canada, a JDRF-funded study is testing Ustekinumab in adults, within 100 days of being diagnosed with type 1. As the drug is already approved for use in Canada, if the trial results are positive, moving forward to clinical use would not only be feasible, but rapid.
This phase II/III trial is taking place at BCDiabetes in Vancouver, under the leadership of Tom Elliott, MBBS, and the University of Toronto, under Bruce Perkins, M.D., MPH, both in Canada. There will be a total of 60 participants enrolled between the ages of 18-25 years old.
A JDRF grant is also supporting Megan Levings, Ph.D. and her team, at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, as they aim to harmonize the biomarkers of response in both the Canadian and UK clinical trials, increasing the sample size and more rapidly identifying whether this is an effective therapy for T1D.
What is ustekinumab?
Ustekinumab is an established immunotherapy, meaning it targets the immune cells in the body. It is used by Canadians living with immune conditions, including severe psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, severe Crohn’s disease and severe ulcerative colitis. The drug is given as an injection, which people can give themselves at home.
A precision medicine
Dr. Megan Levings, who worked on a Canadian arm of the study, said: “We have been working on the idea that a drug like ustekinumab could be beneficial in type 1 diabetes for more than a decade so it is really exciting to see the results of this study. My team’s contribution was to set up blood tests to measure how ustekinumab affects the immune system. It turned out that the results of these tests were very important to identify which children responded the best to the drug. Personalized immunology in action!”
Crucial JDRF UK funding
The USTEKID trial provides the first clinical trial-based evidence for the role of this type of immune cell in type 1 diabetes. Identifying the specific immune cells that cause damage to the insulin-making beta cells could pave the way for precise and targeted therapies to maximise benefits and minimise side effects for people living with type 1.
Professor Tim Tree, who led the research team at King’s College London, said: “JDRF UK funding was instrumental in the biomarker experiments in the project where we examined blood samples from the trial participants. This was the key to linking a reduction in these cells with a good outcome in those treated with the drug. This offers opportunities to personalise therapy to those most likely to benefit or test newer therapies that might target this population of cells more quickly and potently.”
More research needed
While the trial demonstrates the benefit of using ustekinumab to treat type 1 diabetes, further clinical trials are required to confirm this finding and to work out which patients would benefit most from the treatment. The researchers also hope to test whether this drug could be used to treat individuals at earlier stages of type 1, before they ever need insulin therapy.
To learn more about how to be involved in the Ustekinumab clinical trials in Canada, please visit our Clinical Trials Finder tool.
Meet Bonnie Barber from Regina, SK, a resilient mother of seven, valued JDRF donor, and longstanding volunteer leader helping to champion JDRF Canada’s $100M Campaign to Accelerate. Bonnie shares her journey navigating the challenging early moments of her two children’s type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnoses, how this relentless disease has impacted her family, and what led them to JDRF.
The $100M Campaign to Accelerate is JDRF’s bold fundraising plan to speed up research toward a world without T1D. Our campaign is divided into six key support pillars to help accelerate cures while improving lives. Thanks to devoted JDRF donors and volunteers like Bonnie, this major gift campaign has raised over $78M, funding more T1D research than ever before.
Bonnie’s son, Bryn, was diagnosed with T1D in 1990, shortly after his 5th birthday. There was no known diabetes in their family, and she didn’t know the early signs and symptoms. Bryn hadn’t been feeling well for quite a while and had very little energy. He loved running and playing with his friends at daycare, but Bonnie noticed he was having difficulty keeping up – it was then that she knew something was wrong.
After bringing Bryn to the doctor’s office, they had to go to the lab for a blood test. Bonnie says, “I was really freaked out for this poor little guy. I realized that we had to find out [whether he had T1D], but I just felt so bad for him and, as a mom, challenged to get him through a blood test.”
The doctor called Bonnie to inform her that Bryn’s blood glucose levels were very high. She immediately had to pack an overnight bag and check Bryn into the hospital. At the time, children diagnosed with T1D were typically hospitalized for about one month. Bonnie didn’t want to leave young Bryn on his own, so every morning, she would gather her three other children and head straight to the hospital in pyjamas. Eventually, they all moved into Bryn’s hospital room, trying to make it a fun adventure for the kids. Using the hospital’s playroom and watching TV were little things that went a long way in helping their family get through a difficult time.
“The first little while was very rough,”Bonnie says.“I was just so overwhelmed that I couldn’t take it. I didn’t know how to survive because I thought, ‘This child is going to need all this special care and meals and so much.’ I was treading water as it was with four little ones, and it was a lot.”
Bonnie and her family went home after two weeks, feeling very proud of Bryn. Yet there would be many firsts to face as a mother of a child with T1D – like the first time Bonnie accidentally gave Bryn too much insulin. She panicked, thinking it was all over. Bonnie says there are many traumas she faced in the beginning, but their family slowly got used to life with T1D.
Bonnie’s daughter, Jillian, was also diagnosed (at age 16), but they caught it much sooner because Bonnie knew the symptoms of T1D. Yet, a year later, Jillian was feeling unwell again. They couldn’t figure out why until she was diagnosed with celiac disease, another autoimmune condition that is more common in people with T1D.
Bonnie’s family became involved with JDRF through the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes in Regina, SK, two years after Bryn’s diagnosis. As their family learned more about JDRF, they wanted to become more actively engaged as volunteers and supporters. They realized that advancements like insulin pumps, which had made Bryn’s T1D management easier, were made possible in part by JDRF-funded research.
“Thanks to JDRF’s contributions to research, our family is a happy success story,” Bonnie says. “But we still have more work to do. That’s why I decided to join JDRF Canada’s $100M Campaign to Accelerate by helping to fundraise for global research and thanking JDRF’s incredible donors through the Stewardship Cabinet.”
JDRF also informed Bonnie’s family about studies like TrialNet, which allowed them to screen their five other kids for T1D auto-antibodies. They discovered that their youngest child, Burke, was at a high risk of developing T1D. Thankfully, he is still T1D-free today at age 28 and may have the chance to delay its potential onset with emerging disease-modifying therapies.
Bonnie’s children are doing well today and have made her a proud grandmother. With fifteen grandkids, Bonnie would like to build on existing research to catch T1D early, keep it at bay, and stop it before it can start so they can live in a world without the disease. She hopes the research will advance so Bryn and Jillian no longer experience highs and lows (blood glucose) or need to monitor their blood glucose levels constantly. Whether through technology like hybrid closed-loop insulin pumps, stem cell transplants or immunotherapies, Bonnie believes we are close to cures.
“We’re on the verge; let’s make it better,” Bonnie says.“The cure for diabetes may not be the common definition of ‘cure,’ but we are so close to people with T1D being able to live independently of technology and insulin. Please know that with your financial assistance, we’ll quickly push this [T1D cure research] over the edge.”
Leadership gifts (of $5,000 or more) towards our campaign ensure groundbreaking research advancements to help improve the lives of people with T1D, like Bryn and Jillian, parents like Bonnie, and countless others impacted by this disease.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
– Helen Keller, Disability rights advocate
Since our founding 50 years ago, JDRF Canada has helped fuel almost every advancement in type 1 diabetes (T1D) care and cure research by bringing together the T1D community, donors, researchers, and funding partners to work towards the same vision – a life without T1D.
Through our partnership with the federal government, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) matches all donor investments 1:1 toward high-impact Canadian T1D research grants, meaning donations to this partnership make double the impact on critical T1D research.
3X Match
Over 50 days, double the impact will become triple the impact thanks to the incredible generosity of one of our dedicated board members, who is matching all Campaign to Accelerate gifts ($5,000 and up) to the JDRF-CIHR Partnership to Defeat Diabetes up to $1M. With donor support help, we can turn $1 million into $3 million for groundbreaking research in Canada.
This 3X Triple Match funds innovative projects in cell therapies, precision medicine, mental health, and nationwide T1D screening that advance care, early treatment, and promising pathways to T1D cures.
To learn more or make a 3X match leadership gift, contact Kim Lacombe.
Dr. James Shapiro is exploring whether a person’s own blood cells (reprogrammed into islet-like cells for transplant) can be used as the basis for therapy instead of donor tissue.
“I’m very excited about the progress of T1D research, especially within the last five years. But I believe that a cure is really within all our grasps. It’s going to require intense collaborative scientific effort and a lot of funding, but I firmly believe this is possible and will happen,” says Dr. James Shapiro, University of Alberta.
Dr. Cristina Nostro is testing gene-edited stem cell-derived islets for transplant that would not require the immunosuppressive drugs typically needed in cell replacement procedures.
“In the last 20 years, we’ve learned how to differentiate stem cells [into beta cells], and now we’re moving them to the clinic, and they’re giving us the results we want. The future is bright. I’m super excited,” says Dr. Cristina Nostro, University of Toronto.
In T1D Management
Dr. Farid Mahmud recently published his trial results showing that a drug called Dapagliflozin can improve glucose control and kidney health in youth with T1D. Dr. Mahmud is also leading the EVERYONE study, which examines the impact of diversity on diabetes management in youth, intending to personalize care for better outcomes.
“We’re looking at how we can optimize care and prevent complications. We work with patient partners – families and parents – and all our studies are designed with these partners to develop the best ideas relevant to care,” says Dr. Farid Mahmud, SickKids.
In Mental Health
Dr. Holly Witteman is creating a research-based national peer support program led by people with T1D to improve the mental health and quality of life of the T1D community.
“As a scientist who has lived with type 1 diabetes since childhood, I know how important it is to be able to connect with others who really understand life with T1D. The CommuniT1D project aims to provide helpful, sustainable peer support for people living with T1D and their families across Canada so that no one has to feel alone,” says Dr. Holly Witteman, Université Laval.
In Early Detection
JDRF and the CIHR launched a nationwide T1D screening research consortium last year, hoping to implement general population screening to help eliminate life-threatening diagnosis complications and introduce future early intervention therapies to delay T1D onset.
“This project is near and dear to my heart because my son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was just two years old. He was extremely sick, and his body was weak. Life changed, and I had no idea there was even a possibility of T1D in our family, being affected by the 60s Scoop. I hope to identify barriers and provide resources while giving diabetes support and fostering relationships between Indigenous communities and researchers,” Sasha Delorme, Diabetes Action Canada, Indigenous research lead, JDRF-CIHR CanScreenT1D.
Collectively, the projects donors fund through the JDRF-CIHR Partnership make a profound impact now while supporting future T1D breakthroughs.
JDRF is working with its Campaign to Accelerate volunteer leaders to maximize this remarkable triple-match opportunity, which will drive significant advancements in Canadian research and positively affect the lives of nearly 300,000 people living with T1D nationwide.
The JDRF Canada Clinician Investigator Fellowship is open to medical residents that are pursuing an additional research degree (Master, PhD, or postdoctoral training) in the field of type 1 diabetes research. Residents must be part of their university’s Clinician Investigator Program (CIP) which is guided by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The major goal of the CIP is to assist in the career development of clinician investigators in Canada. At the end of the research component of the program, the resident will be expected to have acquired the knowledge, skills, and attitudes fundamental to embarking on a career in health research.
Dr. Ahsen Chaudhry is the first recipient of the JDRF Canada Clinician Investigator Fellowship. He completed his medical degree at the University of British Columbia in 2019 and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada as a certified physician in 2023. Ahsen will now be pursuing a research-based master’s degree via the UBC Clinician Investigator Program.
Dr. Timothy Kieffer, who will supervise Dr. Chaudhry’s research, emphasized the importance of this fellowship: “Ahsen has demonstrated a passion for the role of a clinician-scientist and has a strong aptitude for integrating research into his clinical practice. This program will provide Ahsen with the skills necessary to facilitate the further development of his academic endocrinology career, with a special focus on cell therapy for diabetes. It is important that we build additional capacity and encourage promising fellows like Ahsen to pursue this area of research, to maintain our world leadership in [the type 1 diabetes cell therapy] field.”
JDRF had the pleasure of connecting with Dr. Chaudhry to congratulate him on his new fellowship and discuss his research.
Tell us a bit about your background:
“I grew up in Prince George, BC, where I completed my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Northern British Columbia. I moved to Vancouver to attend medical school at UBC, where I then completed my residency in Internal Medicine and sub-specialty training in Endocrinology.”
What drew you to medicine in general and to diabetes?
“Medicine is a gratifying field that combines the rigour of science, the art of patient care, and the spirit of compassion. The ability to make a tangible difference in someone’s life by combining these aspects is what motivated me to pursue medicine. My interest in diabetes developed early from exposures in my undergraduate studies and medical school, where I was fortunate to join research on diabetes and pancreatic beta-cell physiology. I was humbled by the fascinating cellular processes and web of interacting systems that underpin this disorder, and how much we still have to learn. As I progressed further through my medical training, I witnessed the heavy burden and human cost that diabetes has. It is a chronic condition with a number of serious complications and impacts on quality of life, and it is sincerely a privilege to work with patients on a long-term basis to help them manage their diabetes and maintain their health.”
Why do you want to do research in this area?
“Although the field has come very far since the momentous discovery of insulin, there is still much work to be done to improve diabetes care and help relieve the many challenges faced by people living with diabetes. Thankfully, we are at the cusp of an exciting revolution, particularly for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), with the advent of stem-cell therapy that has the potential to make beta-cell and islet replacements a functional cure for T1D. By pursuing both clinical and basic science training in diabetes and islet/stem cell transplant, I hope to help contribute to this exciting area by helping the discoveries made at the bench progress through clinical trials and then eventually to clinical practice.”
What will you investigate during your Clinician Investigator Fellowship?
“My main project will focus on investigating the use of miRNA-based biomarkers for characterizing graft cell death in patients who have undergone stem cell derived pancreatic progenitor implants as well as cadaveric islet cell transplants, under the mentorship of Dr. Timothy Kieffer. The aim is to develop a non-invasive method for tracking the viability and natural history of these cells, which could help impact future clinical trials and patient management by giving insight into where protocol changes and optimizations need to be made. I will also be assisting with and recruiting for clinical trials of patients receiving novel stem cell-based beta-cell replacement therapies. Additionally, I will be receiving clinical training in islet transplantation and transplant endocrinology during my fellowship.”
How will the JDRF Fellowship support your research?
“The fellowship provides crucial funding that will support me in my clinical and research training, assisting me to become an independent clinician-scientist focused on translational research in diabetes and transplantation. Moreover, by enabling the opportunity to work at the JDRF Center of Excellence in UBC, I am privileged to be able to collaborate and network with leading experts, as Vancouver is home to amazing scientists who are world-leaders in several aspects of T1D research. This is so meaningful in helping my research benefit from and contribute to the broader diabetes research community. We are also rapidly expanding clinical activity and infrastructure in islet transplantation and clinical trials in Vancouver that are informed heavily by a lot of research that has been done here. JDRF’s support is instrumental to cementing this growing collaboration between researchers and clinicians in Vancouver that can help it become a key center for islet transplantation, cell therapy, and innovation in T1D. Ultimately, we hope this will translate to the most important goal of all, improving the lives and outcomes of our patients.”
JDRF Canada thanks Dr. Chaudhry for his time and congratulates him on the fellowship award. We wish him the best of luck with his research work, and we will share research updates when they become available.
Miguel Alvarez, who has been living with type 1 diabetes for over 55 years, aims to complete two bike rides of over 100 miles each.
To mark his 55th ‘Diaversary’ – the date when someone was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D), Vancouver, BC resident Miguel Alvarez will be attempting two 100-mile bike rides: the first in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho in September, and the second in Death Valley, California the following month in October. Training for these rides requires dedication, discipline and perseverance, much like daily life with T1D. Miguel will need to put in many hours on the bike but believes if he can help further progress to find a cure for T1D, it will be worth the effort. It’s why he rides.
JDRF was recently able to talk with Miguel, learn more about his five plus decades living with T1D, what drives him to set these ambitious bike ride challenges, and what he hopes to achieve with his fundraiser.
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I’m originally from Ontario. I’ve worn a few hats in my life. I used to be a professional musician as a drummer and played in the Toronto area in a number of bands and pretty much every music venue throughout Southwestern Ontario. I’ve also worked as a motorsports photographer, and I presently work in technology, after moving to Vancouver.
I was three years old, in 1969, when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. This is now my 55th year living with T1D. One of my earliest childhood memories is being in the hospital, after being diagnosed. It was a traumatic experience. Having visitors was a difficult thing back then, family visits were limited and nobody under the age of 12 was allowed to visit, so my sister couldn’t come to see me. I remember being continually poked with needles, having my blood drawn, things like that. Suffice it to say, these are not nice memories, especially being so formative and some of my first.
And I remember growing up trying to be ‘normal’, but T1D was always present, getting in the way. Much as I tried not to let it affect me. Back then, there was very little in terms of management. We only had one type of insulin. Diet was critical because that was the way to control it. But it was very restrictive. I remember going trick or treating at Halloween and not being allowed to eat any of the candy (it went to my sister) or going to friends’ birthday parties and not being allowed to have any birthday cake. These might not seem like big things, but they were just something else that singled me out as different.
One thing I do feel very fortunate about it is that I was always able as a child to know when I was having a low (hypoglycemia), and I really believe this is one of the reasons I was able to survive 55 years with this condition. I always knew and could communicate to my parents to let them know I wasn’t feeling well, or that I was feeling ‘off’. That I knew I was going low. I’m very lucky that I have always had symptoms of low blood sugar. Many people cannot and that is serious. With the lack of available tools to manage T1D, this was a huge advantage, if you can say that about having this chronic condition.
Over time, it is human nature, you learn to live with it (having T1D). I always try to express to people that I’ve basically lived through almost all the advancements of diabetes management, to date. There was no home glucose testing, no different types or better types of insulins, devices like insulin pumps, advanced glucose monitors like CGMs. All the progress in T1D management has directly impacted my life for the better. So, in some way, I feel that I’m a reflection of the best that has come forward in diabetes management, and I can say with certainty that they have not only improved my life but prolonged my life as well.
I’ve always been very open talking to people about diabetes, what it’s like and educating people along the way. The reality is, when I’m asking for money for my fundraiser – I explain that through the research that’s being done, I am a beneficiary of it. It’s not abstract, it’s very concrete. I am one of the few that can say that your donations over the years have benefited me personally.
I’ve found that for people without any personal knowledge of T1D, there is often a misconception that you take insulin and you’re fine. They don’t understand the daily, even hourly management it takes. It’s far more than many people would be able to manage. But it’s something we have to do, every single day. This isn’t about sympathy, it’s just the reflection and reality of living with a chronic disease that affects your everyday life.
And the mental burden, people don’t always have an appreciation for it. That’s the other aspect. It doesn’t affect just me; it affects everyone around me. My family, my wife, when I’m on a bike ride, I need to be extra vigilant, far more than the average person. It’s not just dealing with one thing; this condition is multi-faceted. And those facets change every day. As much as you try and be consistent, and apply what you think works, there is no explanation when things change or don’t work. No two days are the same. You are always behind the ball. Some days are good, some days are bad. But it’s so hard to juggle all the variables, because you don’t really have control over that. And then there is the tendency to beat yourself up when your control (blood glucose levels) isn’t as good as you want it to be. Then you feel bad. We can be very hard on ourselves too.
Every single day, I think about the potential T1D-related complications, from my eyes to my kidneys to my feet, I’m always thinking about it. And that weighs on me. It’s one thing to live with a chronic condition. But knowing that there are long-term complications that can happen, it’s hard to live with. I’m very concerned about my eyesight. I’m an artistic person. I use my eyes for my work and my creativity. But there is no choice. We do what we must do. And it’s another reason why I am so driven to fundraise to help support critical T1D research.
I’ve been doing these bike rides since 2017, in fact, I hadn’t really connected with JDRF until 2016. And when I did, it was the first time in my life that I met people who understood and knew what I was dealing with. It was a huge deal for me. I had never known anyone else with T1D. I grew up alone with this. I didn’t want to just go and ride my bike for the sake of riding, I wanted to do something with it, use it as a tool. I could make a difference, do the thing I love to do, being healthy and riding my bike, and I could raise money for such an important cause and connect with a community, everyone single-mindedly working towards the same goal. I’ve met so many other people now who know what this (life with T1D) is about. I started making friends in the T1D community in the US, and now I go pretty much every year. Working towards these events and raising money – my donors, I keep going back to them, and they keep supporting me. They appreciate that I am doing something so tangible towards T1D research. I do a lot of training to be able to ride 100 miles, and I’m doing it twice in 2024. Which is physically exhausting, but it’s so empowering and so uplifting. It’s quite amazing.
To anyone thinking of becoming involved with JDRF, please know that it makes a difference. And when I say that I use my personal experience knowing what that difference is, and how profound. Everyone’s time and efforts, whether volunteering or fundraising, does have an enormous impact. This is an investment, the results might not be immediate, but we are investing in future generations and in humanity.
So, towards that end, I’m also in the early stages of participating in a clinical trial, potentially early next year (2025). It seems like I’m a strong candidate. This particular study will implant beta cells (the cells responsible for producing insulin). Essentially, it’s a package of beta cells that are implanted through a surgical procedure. If it works, I wouldn’t need to inject insulin. It’s still early days, but they are interested in me participating. It won’t be easy as I have to be prepared for multiple surgeries. But I know I will get excellent medical attention through the process. I see it as putting my money where my mouth is. I am going to participate directly in finding a cure.
What would a cure mean to me? On the one hand, living with this all my life, it’s become part of my identity. So, if I am no longer diabetic, who am I? It would be a huge mental shift. But not having to manage T1D anymore, would be a whole new life. I would be confident that the future would mean living a less complicated life. My father always used to tell me that they would find a cure in my lifetime, and I want to prove him right. I want to see that happen for us both.
I would love to go for a bike ride and not worry about going low (blood glucose levels). Not needing to take extra food with me every time. Not having to check my Dexcom (CGM device) constantly. Just going for a ride for the pure pleasure of riding. I want to experience that. That’s something I want to try.
The American Diabetes Association’s 84th Scientific Sessions were held from June 21- 24th 2024. This annual conference brings together researchers and scientists to both present and learn about the latest in type 1 diabetes research and technological advancements. Many of the presentations features study results from researchers funded by Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF International) and JDRF Canada. The work presented at ADA will advance research and ultimately improve outcomes for people with diabetes (T1D).
Updates in Cell Therapy Research:
Cell therapy aims to replace the insulin-producing beta cells that are destroyed in people with type 1 diabetes so that they can produce their own insulin again.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals presented an update on their VX-880 product, a stem cell-derived replacement therapy with immunosuppression. Of the 12 patients who have been dosed, nearly all (11 of 12) have has a reduction or elimination of exogenous insulin use (via pump or injection). All patients have achieved an HbA1C below 7.0% and time-in-range above 70% on continuous glucose monitoring with the reduced or eliminated insulin administration. There have been no serious adverse events reported. The trial is expanding recruitment for 37 participants to progress towards pivotal development.
This research was made possible by years of funding by JDRF and the T1D Fund to Doug Melton, Ph.D., and Semma Therapeutics—a biotech company founded by Melton to develop a stem cell-derived islet therapy for T1D—which was acquired by Vertex Pharmaceuticals in 2019.
Cristina Nostro, University Health Network, presented an overview on her JDRF-funded work designing an optimal beta cell surrogate. Her work ranges from establishing optimized stem cell products to the use of microvessels for the purpose of increasing cell engraftment after transplantation.
Alice Tomei, University of Miami and Diabetes Research Institute is funded by Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF International) to examine immune protection strategies for immune protection of transplanted beta cells. She presented an update on research that looks to co-deliver immunomodulators via biomaterials along with transplanted beta cells to provide local, specific immune protection.
Jeffrey Millman, Washington University, presented work on his research looking into making stem cell-derived beta cells more functional so that they produce insulin levels similar to healthy human beta cells. To date, stem cell-derived beta cells have underperformed compared to healthy human beta cells.
Katy Digovich from Minutia presented ongoing research funded by an Industry Discovery & Development Partnership grant from Breakthrough T1D. They are developing nanoparticle trackers that provide real-time monitoring to assess and modify beta cell transplant health post-engraftment in patients with T1D.
Harald Stover from Allarta Life Science(Hamilton, ON) presented ongoing research funded by an Industry Discovery & Development Partnership grant from Breakthrough T1D. Their work focuses on synthetic gel coatings that are designed to both support (with nutrients and oxygen transfer) and protect (with immune evasion) beta cells during transplantation.
These provide guidelines for monitoring children, adolescents, and adults who test positive for T1D autoantibodies, along with recommended monitoring frequencies and actions for healthcare professionals when the risk of progression toward symptomatic T1D is high.
The guidance also includes recommendations for educational and psychosocial support for positive T1D antibody individuals, including their families and caregivers, and may also lead to primary care doctors screening more frequently since there is actionable monitoring guidance available to them.
For the first time, individuals, families, and healthcare professionals have concrete next steps to monitor early stage T1D progression and catch symptoms early to prevent DKA.
This guidance was developed with over 60 international experts, representing 10 countries and endorsed by 11 national and international societies.
Medtronic MiniMed 780G, especially the importance of initiating it as soon as possible following diagnosis (which is now recommended in the ADA Standards of Care for both children and adults), citing the CLVer trial, which found clinically meaningful and sustained improvements in blood sugar management following early AID initiation.
Medtronic MiniMed 780G in high-risk youth with T1D, with 80 participants aged 7-25 years, who demonstrated an average HbA1c reduction of 2.5% (from an average baseline HbA1c of 10.5% to 8%), improvement in time-in-range, and a reduction in low blood sugar events.
SGLT2i Shown as Potential Solution to Help Manage Renal Complications and Improve Glycemic Control for Young Individuals Living with Type 1 Diabetes
Findings from Dr. Farid Mahmud’s JDRF funded ATTEMPT study, showed that a low-dose of SGLT2 inhibitor could safely be given to youth and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to improve kidney function and glycemic management. ATTEMPT is the first of its kind, landmark trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors to optimize diabetes control and prevent early subclinical kidney complications in an at-risk pediatric population with T1D.
This medication was evaluated alongside safety protocols to mitigate the risk for diabetes ketoacidosis. It is not approved for T1D by Health Canada.
Updates in Psychosocial Aspects of Living with T1D
BETTER presentation
Maya Nehme, RD/Dt.P, Research Center CHUM presented results from a cross-sectional study that explored Diabetes Distress among Persons Living with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adults in the Canadian Cohort BETTER. Initially funded through the JDRF-CIHR Partnership to End Diabetes, JDRF Canada has extended funding for the BETTER projectfor an additional 3 years.
The BETTER project includes a Canadian registry of people living with T1D, called the BETTER registry, in which people living with T1D (or LADA for Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults) – or who have a child living with T1D – can share their experience through online questionnaires in order to enrich research and knowledge about T1D.
The study found that emotional burden is significantly greater in persons with LADA than in persons with type 1 diabetes. JDRF Canada is pleased to continue to support the BETTER project and enable such studies to shed light on the daily challenges of those living with T1D.
Throughout June nearly 50 communities gathered across Canada to raise funds for type 1 diabetes research.
The JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes is the largest fundraising event in Canada that brings together the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community to raise funds for T1D research. A fun-filled family and community celebration, the Walk has raised more than $140 million to date in its more than 30-year history – making it one of the longest running and most successful fundraising events in Canada.
Funds raised will go towards research into curing T1D, while improving the lives of people living with it today. This year is the 50th year of JDRF in Canada, and we celebrated the decades of progress, momentum and breakthroughs that have taken place since then, while recognizing the time is now to push forward towards screening, prevention and cures for this disease.
June was once again designated as Walk Month and to date more than $2.6M has already been raised in support of the most promising diabetes research. Additional Walks took place in May with a number of communities still planning Walks in September.
The Walk is so much more than just a fundraiser. It’s a chance for families living with T1D to meet, share their stories and gain support from each other. Many Walks had a tent and activities designated specifically for new families, supported by JDRF Volunteers to provide the most up to date information and resources on navigating life with T1D. As well, trained Research volunteers were on-hand at several sites to provide participants with information on the latest updates in T1D research, and at the Toronto Walk how to access JDRF’s Clinical Trial Finder tool, and several Walk sites had information on the stages of T1D as part of our Awareness Corner activities.
Games were set up for the kids and emcees helped keep the energy fun and exciting with music. Each Walk location had their own unique spin to make the day one to remember for the T1D community.
At the Toronto Walk, we were once again joined by JDRF ambassadors Max Domi and Kaleb Dahlgren, who met with families, took photos and helped to lead the warm-up. Max took time with every child who wanted to meet with him, signed autographs, spoke from the stage and brought hope and inspiration to everyone in attendance.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all our sponsors. With their support, we were able to offer an incredible day of community spirit with valuable resources for T1D families while innumerable connections were made. Across Canada, the Walk was an acknowledgment of 50 years of progress in T1D research, with the recognition that there is much work to be done.
Thank you so much to our Walkers, volunteers, donors, vendors, and our local, regional, national partners. We could not have done it without you. Together we walked, and with each step we took, we got one step closer to a world free from T1D.
Leadership gifts (of $5,000 or more) towards our campaign ensure groundbreaking research advancements to help improve the lives of people with T1D, like Bryn and Jillian, parents like Bonnie, and countless others impacted by this disease.
