It often starts with one and becomes a reality with the support of many: one step to begin a walk, one truck to build a transport empire, and one idea to create a leading global charity.
Like JDRF, Armour Transport Systems arose from humble beginnings in the 1940s, when Mr. Gordon Armour used his truck to haul hay and gravel out of a small farming community near Moncton, New Brunswick. It is now one of Canada’s leading transportation specialists, servicing locations throughout North America. The company is also known for its generous community support of health, youth, and education initiatives, and JDRF is honoured to be Armour’s long-standing charity of choice.
From monthly employee giving programs, to special raffles and fundraisers, and partnering with JDRF for the Sun Like Walk to Cure Diabetes in Moncton, Armour Transport Systems has made a remarkable impact on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Armour recently reached $1 million in giving with their ongoing commitment to the Moncton Walk, which they have supported since 2003.
“Diabetes has had an impact on many of us here at Armour which is why our employees have been so passionate about raising funds for this important cause,” says Ruby Murphy-Collins, Chief Operating Officer, Armour Transport Systems.
For the T1D community in Moncton, which includes Jasmine LeBlanc, co-chair of the 2022 Moncton Walk, Armour’s consistent giving provides hope for a better future for everyone living with T1D. This future ultimately includes a cure for T1D, but in the immediate term also means improved treatments and more equitable access to life-saving diabetes technologies like insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), especially in Atlantic Canada, where there is limited public coverage.
“Armour’s support is amazing – they have been such a big part of our Walk here in Moncton for so many years,” says Jasmine. “Their funding to support diabetes research will make a difference and help lead to a cure for the kids who are newly diagnosed today. And it’s not too late for me either.”
Jasmine was diagnosed at the age of seven and has been living with T1D for just over 20 years. Since her diagnosis, the Walk has provided her with a meaningful space to connect with the T1D community and volunteer her time.
With the pandemic sidelining in-person events for two years, Jasmine, her fellow co-chair Judy Roy, and about 70 others were thrilled to reconnect on a beautiful day at the 2022 Sun Life Walk to Cure Diabetes in Moncton.
The same was true one province over in Bedford, Nova Scotia, where Brad Price, a longtime Armour employee and the current VP of Operations, attended the Halifax region Walk. To celebrate the company’s $1-million legacy of support, JDRF presented Brad with a certificate of appreciation – a small token of recognition for Armour’s tremendous support.
We would like to thank Armour Transport Systems and the communities in Moncton and Atlantic Canada for being such stalwart JDRF supporters throughout the years. Together, with their help we get ever closer to a world free from type 1 diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association’s 82nd Scientific Sessions, were held from June 3-7 both in person and virtually. 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 presenters are funded by JDRF International, JDRF Canada’s affiliate in the United States.
Vertex, ViaCyte and Sernova are making exciting progress in the areas of stem cell derived beta cell therapy, and have all received JDRF funding at some point for their research.
Funding cell replacement therapies research is one of JDRF’s most critical undertakings globally, in its efforts to support the most promising cure-based research into type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Vertex launched its clinical trial of VX-880, a stem cell-derived beta cell therapy in T1D, in combination with immunosuppressive therapy to protect the cells from rejection, in the summer of 2021. To date, three participants have received the therapy, and one is now insulin independent. ViaCyte, in partnership with CRISPR Therapeutics, initiated its first-in-human gene-edited, stem cell replacement therapy, without immunosuppression, called VCTX210.
Sernova provided an update on the phase I/II clinical trial of their Cell Pouch™—an implantable device designed to form a natural environment and allow the survival and function of insulin-producing (islet) cells. The first three individuals to receive the therapy into the Cell Pouch™, with a supplemental marginal dose of islet cells via the portal vein, have been insulin independent for 2 years, 6 months, and 3 months, respectively. JDRF continues to support Sernova to make their Cell Pouch part of the cure portfolio.
There were also presentations on clinical and preclinical data from several investigations on encapsulation and immune-tolerance strategies, including JDRF-funded James Shapiro, M.D., Ph.D. and Andrew R. Pepper, Ph.D., of the University of Alberta, Canada.
Disease-Modifying Therapies
T1D is caused by adaptive immune cells attacking and eventually killing the beta cells in the pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin – but beta cell stress and dysfunction precede the complete loss of cell function, and immune cells are responsible. The prohormone to islet amyloid polypeptide (proIAPP, for short)—as C. Bruce Verchere, Ph.D., and Rebecca Hull-Meichle, Ph.D., discussed in their presentations—is elevated prior to clinical diagnosis, in addition to proinsulin—the precursor to insulin. proIAPP, in turn, causes inflammation and innate immune cell damage.
Dr. Verchere has developed a test to measure two kinds of proIAPP in humans, which will ultimately provide new insight into beta cell function and pave the way for new therapies and biomarkers of beta cell stress. What does this mean? Potential medications or disease modifying therapies could be brought to market that could slow or stop the immune response responsible for killing the beta cells.
Dr. Verchere received a JDRF postdoctoral fellowship beginning in 1992 and Dr. Hull-Meichle received one in 2001-2003.
Dr. Verchere is now leading the JDRF Center of Excellence at the University of British Columbia, where he is working on immune and beta cell therapies, including stem cell-derived therapies, with Dr. Kieffer; James Johnson, Ph.D., who received a JDRF Career Development Award in 2005-2010; Francis Lynn, Ph.D., who was a JDRF postdoc from 2004-2006, advanced postdoc from 2007-2009, and a JDRF Alan Permutt Career Investigator from 2012-2016; and Megan Levings, Ph.D., who has received two JDRF grants since 2015 and has been a mentor to two JDRF postdocs.
Type 1 Diabetes Screening in the General Population
As a result of decades of JDRF-funded research, it is now possible to identify those at highest risk for developing T1D—those who have two or more autoantibodies present in people with type 1 diabetes.
Several JDRF-funded researchers presented on the current state of screening for both genetic risk and/or T1D-related autoantibodies. Chantal Mathieu, M.D., Ph.D., gave a talk about why it’s time to screen for T1D in the general population. She emphasized that T1D is a serious disease and that decreasing the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) a potentially life-threatening complication that is often the first sign of T1D in individuals – is cause to warrant population screening.
Post-screening, healthcare practitioners must be available for follow-up and guidance so families know what to do with autoantibody status, including potentially enrolling in clinical trials of disease-modifying therapies like teplizumab, a drug that may slow the development of T1D before DKA. Screening will help identify populations who can benefit from these therapies.
Screening is now a priority of the JDRF-CIHR Partnership to Defeat Diabetes, as it’s seen as a path to a cure by developing disease-modifying therapies to keep the disease from progressing and, ultimately, prevent it entirely.
Improving Lives
Artificial Pancreas Technologies
There were multiple presentations on the ‘artificial pancreas’, or automated insulin delivery (AID), systems.
Some presentations highlights included the results from the first randomized clinical trial testing of a do-it-yourself, or DIY, open-source, community-built AID technology, using the OpenAPS algorithm plus the DANA or YpsoPump insulin pump and the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
The study included 100 children and adults in New Zealand who used the DIY system compared to those without the algorithm, headed by JDRF International grantees Martin de Bock, Ph.D. (who also gave the presentation), and Dana Lewis, the founder of the DIY artificial pancreas system movement. There was no severe hypoglycemia and no DKA, and more participants achieved time-in-range of ˃70% using the OpenAPS algorithm, especially at night.
Sobha Sivaprasad, M.D., reported on The Restoring Vision Moonshot, an approach to ending diabetic eye disease. The Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) Scale was developed in the 1950s but was limited to point-in-time visual perception.
Dr. Sivaprasad is part of 50 global experts who will review the literature on diabetic eye disease in the next year, to develop an evidence-based updated retinopathy staging scale, creating recommendations that will incorporate decades of progress in functional imaging, other biomarkers, and metrics of quality of life. When this scale is completed, it will lead to the development of early preventive therapies to reduce vison-threatening retinopathy progression, and ultimately improve quality of life for people with T1D.
It’s an exciting time in type 1 diabetes research. JDRF will continue to monitor these studies and provide further updates as they become available.
The 2022 Sun Life Walk to Cure Diabetes for JDRF was a huge success!
The Walk is the largest fundraising event in Canada to support type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. As a result of the pandemic, for the last two years, JDRF had to shift to a virtual event, and while our supporters still made the Walk an exciting and successful fundraiser – there’s nothing like the T1D community being together in person.
This year, we were so excited to reunite many communities across Canada. We asked you to Step Up to Cure Diabetes and did you ever! We were amazed by the dedication and commitment of our participants.
Almost 900 teams registered in more than 45 communities with each province and territory being able to support JDRF too.
As of June 28, more than $2M has been raised in support of the most promising diabetes research with additional Walks still set to take place.
We designated June as Walk Month and there were two ways to participate in the Walk.
JDRF led signature walks, in Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax on June 12 and across the country, volunteer-led community walks brought together the T1D community.
The Walk is more than just a fundraiser. It’s a chance for families living with T1D to get together, share their stories and offer support. For many first-year Walkers, they or their child were diagnosed during the pandemic, and this was the first time they could meet safely with others who have already been there. Families talked about going back to school for the first time with T1D, nutrition and exercise tips, and helped those who have been newly diagnosed know they were not alone.
Cassie’s son, Connor, was diagnosed with T1D in 2020 at the age of five. It’s important for Cassie that Connor knows that he is not alone.
“It’s not just about raising money, or awareness, it’s that sense of community. It’s about celebrating the resilience of all the kids who live with T1D and connecting with other parents and families who know exactly what you are going through. It meant the world to me to see Connor’s face light up when he saw other kids wearing fanny packs, sporting their pumps & CGMs. It’s one thing to see kids like him on social media, but it is on a whole different level when he sees them in person,” – Cassie Donnelly, Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Most signature Walks had a tent designated specifically for new families, supported by JDRF Volunteer and Community Engagement staff to provide the most up to date information and resources. Games were set up for the kids and emcees helped keep the energy going with music. Across the country, each Walk location had their own unique offerings for the T1D community.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all our sponsors, who helped us welcome Walk participants back to in-person events! With their support, we were able to offer an incredible day with pre-Walk stretching, delicious refreshments and valuable resources for T1D families.
Walk Day was a day of fun, sharing, a lot of laughter and some tears. We are so grateful to everyone who helped to make it happen and are excited to see the T1D community gather at upcoming Walks.
Thank you so much to our Walkers, volunteers, donors and our national partners. We could not have done it without you. Every step that you took brings us closer to a world free from type 1 diabetes.
Thank you to our onsite partners for welcoming participants back to in-personevents!
In collaboration with CIHR, JDRF Canada has recently announced a major funding opportunity in the area of screening for T1D risk. Here, we explain the reason why screening for T1D risk is central to our quest for cures.
Researchers use the word ‘cures’ deliberately, as there are many pathways to a world free from T1D. One such path is screening and prevention – catching the disease before the onset of clinical symptoms. T1D is an autoimmune disease, where the body attacks the beta cells in the pancreas responsible for producing insulin. The key to protecting beta cells is to discover this autoimmune response early enough to slow it down or halt it entirely.
Universal screening offers the potential to identify people who are at risk of developing T1D. Canada has one of the fastest growing rates of T1D diagnoses anywhere in the world – and we don’t know why. The more we screen people, the greater the likelihood of unlocking the mechanisms behind the development of the disease.
JDRF-funded research previously discovered that the presence of two or more specific markers indicative of an autoimmune response to the pancreas – called autoantibodies – indicates that a person is almost 100% likely to develop T1D in their lifetime. Screening also provides the opportunity to educate those at risk about the signs and symptoms of T1D and provide supportive follow-up, preventing the life-threatening complication diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at diagnosis. Finally, we know that while first-degree family members of T1D are at an elevated risk of developing T1D, around 85-90% of newly diagnosed cases do not have a direct family connection.
It’s not just about preventing DKA.
The prevailing medical wisdom used to be that T1D developed quickly, with a sudden onset of symptoms including thirst, hunger, increased urination, weight loss, and fatigue. Thanks to advances in screening and a better understanding of the human immune system, we now know that T1D does not develop suddenly but in fact the disease process usually starts long before insulin is required.
Once the immune system begins to attack the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, we can detect markers in the blood (autoantibodies) that tell us a person is at increased risk. This is because the disease is otherwise asymptomatic or silent earlier on.
T1D happens in 3 stages:
Because most people do not have a family history of T1D, symptoms and a diagnosis often come out of the blue. In 25-45% of diagnoses in children in Canada, this unexpected diagnosis comes with DKA, a serious and life-threatening complication that can lead to death if not treated promptly. People with T1D know what to do to minimize the risk of DKA and to seek medical attention if it occurs—but people who have yet to be diagnosed do not. That’s why, unfortunately, a significant percentage of people experience DKA at diagnosis and require hospitalization.
To avoid this risk, everyone that wants to should have the opportunity to get tested for T1D autoantibodies. If a positive result is found, families could develop a plan for further monitoring with their doctor to avoid serious complications and lower the risk for life-threatening DKA at diagnosis. The hope is that in the future, there may be therapies that allow healthcare professionals to intervene and delay or even prevent T1D onset.
How to Get Screened
Currently, only family members of people with T1D can be screened for T1D risk through TrialNet. TrialNet is an international network of leaders in T1D research and clinical care with centers in the United States and internationally. A key goal of JDRF’s global research strategy is to support research that enables introduction of general population screening to identify high-risk individuals for early detection, reduce DKA at diagnosis, and accelerate the evaluation of disease-modifying therapies that could delay or prevent the disease.
What’s Next for Screening in Canada?
Now, JDRF Canada is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity in the area of T1D screening in partnership with the CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes. The goal of the CIHR-JDRF Type 1 Diabetes Screening Research Consortium is to develop a single nationally coordinated research network to explore key research questions about the feasibility and acceptability of a general population T1D screening program in Canada, building on experiences from other countries.
Most T1D screening studies have up to now focused only on family members. However, as 90% of people diagnosed with T1D do not have any family history, family-based screening does not identify most people at risk. This new funding opportunity looks to address this gap and help us better identify why T1D develops in Canadians, with potential benefits globally. As well, it will help advance research into potential disease-modifying therapies that could be applied at the moment high risk is identified in an individual.
Stopping T1D before it starts is the ultimate goal, and a universal screening program will be essential to prevent new diagnoses of this disease in the future.
We strongly encourage you to consult with your or your child’s physician for input as you make decisions about screening for T1D risk. Considering various sources of expert guidance and that from one’s own physician is the best way to make personal health choices.
JDRF provides seed funding for highly innovative research with significant potential to accelerate the most promising type 1 diabetes (T1D) research in both cures and approaches to improve disease management. JDRF Innovative Grants address key outstanding questions in the field of T1D and have the potential to lead to changes in the traditional ways of approaching T1D research or spur groundbreaking discoveries.
JDRF is thrilled to announce that three Canadian researchers have recently been awarded one-year Innovation Grants for their T1D studies.
Dr. Robert Screaton and his lab at the Sunnybrook Research Institute in Toronto, Ontario were awarded an Innovation Grant to study strategies to maximize survival of beta cells. Beta cells are very long lived, and as such, it’s believed that they may have genes that work to promote their survival throughout life. However, these genes and how they work to promote beta cell survival are largely unknown.
Previously, Dr. Screaton’s group carried out a large-scale genetic screen to identify genes that help the beta cells survive and function.
In the new project, the team will build on this work to harness the function of selected genes to help promote beta cell survival, not only during transplant scenarios (stem cell-derived transplants that replace the beta cells that die during the process of T1D), but even to prevent the beta cell loss that triggers T1D in the first place. The team will explore whether already available drugs that can potentially “turn on” these genes can also promote the survival of human beta cells, and promising results could potentially lead to a drug therapy that could extend the life of cell replacement therapies or even prevent T1D from developing.
The second Innovation Grant was awarded to Dr. Derek van der Kooy at the University of Toronto. Van der Kooy and his lab members at the Molecular Genetics department work on various stem cell biology and developmental biology research projects. The innovation grant will focus on work to optimize the production of new beta cells from endogenous precursor cells. The team wants to see whether there exists a mechanism to activate adult pancreatic precursor cells to make new insulin-producing beta cells. As the team learns more about these adult pancreatic cells, they hope to better understand the cell surface receptors that can be potentially ‘unlocked’ by certain drugs.
The team also aims to explore an existing regenerative drug library to find new drugs that may encourage these pancreatic cells to proliferate. The potential benefit of such cell activation is that a future therapy based on this work could avoid invasive surgery and maintain the vascular and spatial structure of the pancreas, both of which are important for beta cells to control blood glucose effectively and safely.
The third Innovation Grant recipient is Dr. Sylvie Lesage of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital in Montreal, Quebec. Dr. Lesage and her team want to better understand pancreatic insufficiency – specifically when the pancreas does not produce enough enzymes necessary for digesting certain foods such as fat.
Pancreatic insufficiency is present in approximately half of people with T1D, and it may contribute to difficulties in managing blood glucose levels and increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Dr. Lesage will examine why certain people with T1D have pancreatic insufficiency.
Severe defects in a protein named cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) cause cystic fibrosis. This same protein, CFTR, when found in the pancreas of people with cystic fibrosis, causes pancreatic insufficiency. More recently, minor defects in CFTR have been associated with an increased risk of T1D. Once pancreatic insufficiency is better understood in people with T1D, Dr. Lesage can test drugs used to treat cystic fibrosis (initially in mice), to see if they may correct these defects in the CFTR in people with T1D who suffer from pancreatic insufficiency and improve diabetes management.
JDRF Canada will continue to support work that aims to prevent, treat and improve the lives of people with T1D. We will provide updates on these exciting Innovation Grants as they become available.
After years of struggling with the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), Wendell Dempsey breathed a sigh of relief last week when all members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance (FINA) unanimously supported an amendment to the Federal Budget that would ensure all Canadians living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) can access this credit.
For Wendell, the update to the DTC would mean he gets taxed less on his earned income, alleviating some of the stress about the high costs associated with his growing list health complications resulting from T1D.
“This change would mean no more fighting with the doctor to sign off on documents, and no more trying to rationalize how many hours a week it does take to try and control this disease,” he says.
Despite living with type 1 diabetes for more than 20 years, Wendell has only been approved for the DTC a handful of times. “Sometimes I am approved, and sometimes I am not. But my diabetes has always remained constant, and my expenses have only increased.”
Thousands more expressed their gratitude online for this positive step in the right direction, including Joanna Stimpson who took to social media to say “Finally!” thanking her husband Matt who lives with T1D, and bravely shared his story with the House of Commons Committee. Matt applied for the Disability Tax Credit at the same time as his 14-year-old daughter Tilly. Tilly was approved, and Matt was not, even though they both live with the same condition and the costs incurred and time spent on self-management are relatively the same.
Any Canadian with T1D can attest to the exorbitant costs that come with daily management of this disease. From insulin to devices to supplies, individuals and families can pay up to $15,000 per year out of pocket to survive. T1D is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in a person’s pancreas. People with T1D must administer an external form of insulin, either through injection, pump or pen multiple times a day in order to survive. There is no cure, but diabetes technologies and devices have come a long way to help people manage the disease better and live healthier, easier, and safer lives. But even with careful management, there remains the risk of diabetes related complications including coma, amputations, kidney failure and even death.
The purpose of the DTC is to provide for tax equity by allowing some relief for disability costs, since these are the unavoidable expenses that other taxpayers do not have. However, it can be difficult for people with T1D to qualify. Many medical professionals, like Dr. Bruce Perkins, an endocrinologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, indicate that the current eligibility process is cumbersome. He has attested that the 14-hour requirement is arbitrary, outdated and presents too many unfair challenges for people trying to access the benefit.
Dr. Perkins has been a staunch opponent of the 14-hour requirement saying that “the simple fact of a type 1 diabetes diagnosis means that one is already on life-sustaining therapy, one carries additional weekly physical burdens, burdens with coping psychologically, and major financial burdens from the direct and indirect costs of type 1 diabetes. The requirement that a person with T1D must demonstrate an arbitrary number of hours spent on their disease does not resonate well with the medical community, places unfair burden on the health care provider, and introduces major bias in which individuals with T1D receive a tax credit.”
The proposed amendment to the Budget Bill can alleviate this barrier to access by automatically qualifying people who live with T1D and has the community saying, “Finally!”
A focus of JDRF’s Improving Lives research is to improve glucose control and reduce the burden of self-management by advancing the development of new drugs and devices for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
The study: Can adding an approved glucose-lowering drug to treatment with a closed-loop insulin delivery system improve glucose control in T1D?
A JDRF funded collaborative team out of Mount Sinai Hospital and McGill University recently published findings in Nature Medicine about how an add-on treatment to insulin could improve glucose control in adults living with T1D. Empagliflozin is an already approved medication that is used to improve blood glucose levels in people living with type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Bruce Perkins and Dr. Ahmad Haidar, alongside their teams at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre and the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute in Toronto, examined the individual and combined efficacy of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin – an oral drug that acts on the kidney to rid the body of excess glucose – on the time spent in the glucose target range (3.9-10.0mmol/L) over a 4-week period in people living with T1D. Participants in the study took empagliflozin while using either a closed-loop system or a sensor-augmented insulin pump. The study was placebo-controlled, meaning that some participants did not receive the drug and no participants knew which one they were being administered.
What did the study find?
Empagliflozin improved the time in range whether participants were using the closed-loop system (by 7.2%) or the sensor-augmented insulin pump (11.4%), and also decreased daily insulin doses. Compared with participants who used an insulin pump alone, participants who used a closed loop system plus empagliflozin spent 17.5% more time in range each day (i.e., over 4 hours). As per international consensus guidelines, an increase of the glucose target range of more than 5% is considered clinically meaningful. Since empagliflozin can increase the risk of ketoacidosis in people with T1D, the team also closely monitored daily ketone levels. Although ketone levels were higher in some participants, the researchers observed no episode of diabetic ketoacidosis (a hyperglycemic episode that requires immediate medical attention) with empagliflozin in this study. There were also no episodes of severe hypoglycemia.
What does this mean for people with T1D?
The addition of adjunct therapy to T1D management and especially closed-loop systems holds a lot of promise. Drugs like empagliflozin may also have protective benefits for the heart and the kidneys in people with T1D, and previous studies have shown that the drug can improve HbA1c, weight and blood pressure without increasing hypoglycemia.
What comes next?
Further research is needed with this drug and with other adjunct therapies for people living with T1D –as insulin alone is often not sufficient to help these individuals reach their target blood glucose goals and new therapies offer opportunities to reduce management burden. JDRF will continue to fund the most promising research into drug therapies, and partner with regulators to accelerate approvals, with the aim of driving those that show the greatest promise to market as quickly as possible.
On April 20, 2022, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and JDRF announced new funding for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research in the areas of precision medicine and psychosocial health. This new tranche of funding stems from the 2021 Federal Budget announcement on strategic investments in diabetes research.
The JDRF-CIHR Partnership to Defeat Diabetes is a landmark collaboration announced in 2017 between the Government of Canada, through CIHR, who invested $15M and JDRF Canada who matched that investment with an additional $15M to support transformative T1D research.
CIHR-JDRF Team Grants: Precision Medicine in Type 1 Diabetes
Precision medicine is an important approach to treating disease that is based on an individual’s personal health factors. Often described as ‘the right treatment for the right patient at the right time’, precision medicine focuses on integrating data about genetic, molecular, and environmental factors to improve disease diagnosis, care, treatment or prevention.
A greater understanding of how individual characteristics ‒ including genetics, biomarkers and immune and beta cell dysfunction ‒ contribute to T1D risk and progression may lead to more precise therapeutic targets, better characterization of disease risk and how it may progress in an individual, improved opportunities for safe and effective intervention and, ultimately prevention of T1D.
Complementing previous CIHR and JDRF investments in new T1D research as part of 100 Years of Insulin: Accelerating Canadian Discoveries to Defeat Diabetes, the CIHR-JDRF Team Grants: Precision Medicine in Type 1 Diabetes will support multi-disciplinary research to accelerate precision medicine approaches for prediction, prevention, and treatment of T1D.
CIHR-JDRF Operating Grants in Diabetes, Psychosocial Health, Prevention and Self-Management
Research has shown an increasingly clear relationship between diabetes and a variety of psychosocial factors. Psychosocial factors are the constellation of environmental, social, behavioural, and emotional factors that can influence both disease management and emotional and psychological well-being. But standard care for diabetes doesn’t always address psychosocial health concerns despite evidence that poor psychosocial health can result in poorer outcomes for disease management.
This new funding opportunity will help to support JDRF’s Mental Health Strategy, which aims to close gaps in mental health support to improve both the quality of life and health outcomes for Canadians with T1D.
Specific to T1D, this funding opportunity will support research that is focused on interventions and models of care that address psychosocial issues and mental health disorders in people with T1D to improve mental health and associated quality of life and/or clinical outcomes.
Since its inception in 2017, the CIHR-JDRF Partnership to Defeat Diabetes has funded 11 innovative clinical trials and translational research projects to accelerate the development of new treatment approaches for people with T1D, in addition to cures for the disease. Most recently, JDRF announced a new investment of $7 million to support four Canadian research teams as part of the Partnership. Learn more about the funded research projects from the Partnership.
The CIHR-JDRF Partnership to Defeat Diabetes is one of the six pillars of JDRF’s $100 Million Campaign to Accelerate. These two opportunities will unlock $18M of the next $30M of funding through the JDRF-CIHR Partnership to Defeat Diabetes. JDRF is committed to raising the funds required to support the research that will be funded through these two opportunities.
JDRF is very thankful to our donors who have made these funding opportunities in new areas of focus possible. Further updates on the projects and the researchers who secure the grants will be provided as they become available.
National Volunteer Week takes place from April 24-30, 2022, as organizations across the country celebrate those who generously donate their time and talents to their community.
The National Volunteer Week theme for 2022 is Volunteering Is Empathy in Action, affirming the strong connection between volunteerism and empathy. The theme also emphasizes that Volunteers Bring Heart to Canada’s Communities and that this profoundly human connection is at the heart of healthier individuals and stronger communities.
JDRF’s volunteers are unquestionably the heart and soul of what we do. Some of our dedicated volunteers share why they devote their time to JDRF and what being a volunteer means to them.
Why I volunteer
Ariane Archambault, Montreal QC Diagnosed age11
I started volunteering in different organizations 4-5 years ago, because I felt that I needed to get involved, to be around people with different realities than mine, to understand different points of view and especially to try to be useful somewhere in society.
For a long time, I wanted to get involved with other young people with type 1 diabetes, but I didn’t feel mentally strong enough to reassure, advise and equip people who face the same difficulties as I do every day. I needed detachment, perspective, experience and most of all to work on accepting the disease first before trying to inspire others to do the same.
After 14 years of living with type 1 diabetes, experiencing the ups and downs, I decided to seek help from JDRF’s Peer Support Program, as I was going through a little discouragement. It felt so good to talk to someone who was going through the same issues as I was, that I immediately wanted to get involved!
Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to help a few newly diagnosed people get through the emotional roller coaster that comes with a diagnosis. I realize that I wish someone had been there to answer all my questions and concerns when I was diagnosed at age 11. It’s not easy to see your daily life take a 180 degree turn and to feel alone in this new reality, so it’s great if I could contribute, in a small way, to breaking the isolation. We should all listen to each other more and be really interested in what others may be going through, even if it is miles away from our reality.
Being asked how you’re doing, for real, and being listened to, changes everything.
I am also involved in JDRF Marketing in Quebec, and I am also part of the JDRF Mental Health Advisory Board, which aims to develop a mental health strategy to better support people with type 1 diabetes.
I try to raise awareness as much as possible with those around me, because over the years I have come to realize that type 1 diabetes is not well known, and therefore not well understood, which contributes to the isolation of people with the disease. Every time I can help someone who is going through the same thing as I am, I always feel a little more confident.
Motria Iwan, Victoria BC Diagnosed age 14
Motria is a JDRF volunteer in Victoria, BC who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 14 years old. She has participated in multiple JDRF fundraising events since being diagnosed and she currently volunteers as a graphic designer at JDRF.
In November 2021, with the help of the JDRF team, Motria organized her own National Diabetes Awareness Month fundraising initiative which raised over $10,000 for JDRF. Motria also initiated Langford City Hall in BC to proclaim November as National Diabetes Awareness Month and she organized the Royal BC Museum, Victoria City Hall, and the BC Parliament Building to light up blue on November 14th in honour of World Diabetes Day and 100 years since the discovery of insulin.
Motria loves contributing her abilities as a user experience and interface designer to benefit the diabetic community and she aims to inspire people with type 1 diabetes.
Raj Huitin, Thornhill, ON Diagnosed age 2
My name is Raj and I have type 1 diabetes. I’ve been living with this condition for almost 14 years now, and it has become a part of my daily routine. I was diagnosed as a 2 year old toddler, which was extremely overwhelming for my parents. While the hospital provided great support, my parents leaned on the JDRF right away for mentorship from other parents, attending informational sessions, and participating in family events such as the ride and the walk for the cure.
Seeing this journey made my decide that I would like to contribute as well. Volunteering helps me give back to the community that has helped me and so many others. The most fulfilling part of volunteering is that I know I am helping others with their conditions learn just like I did. Diabetes isn’t a weakness; I would actually say it has certain benefits as well. It has helped me build my resilience with school and sports. Without fail the JDRF has helped numerous kids like me and my family countless times and I love volunteering for them.
Ruby Pilatzke, Petawawa, ON Diagnosed age 9
School was out for the summer June of 2013. I was 9 and looking forward to spending time with friends, taking in all the fun and wonderment the break typically had to offer. That summer was anything but typical. It started with me wetting the bed again. I had long outgrown that. At this time too, I was so thirsty. One weekend I drank water bottle after water bottle only to have my thirst never quenched.
The thing that couldn’t be ignored though was my sudden weight loss. It happened without warning, really overnight. It was drastic to say the least. So pronounced, my looks changed making me barely recognizable to those who knew me well. My mom had helped me have a bath just prior and she couldn’t believe how thin I was. Mom is a nurse and knew what diabetes was, I know. She even said to me one night “mommy doesn’t know Ruby. Maybe you have diabetes.”
Almost a week later though the weight loss couldn’t be ignored. That was the tipping point which triggered the trip to the emergency department. Along with my vital signs, my blood sugar was assessed. The reading was high, confirming my mom’s suspicions. July 29, 2013 brought the diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes and a world none of us was prepared for.
I learned of JDRF early on in my diagnosis, when it was suggested I sign up for their Bag of Hope. A welcome package so to speak for those with Type 1 diabetes. It has useful resources for the person with diabetes and their caregivers. I got it and among other things it had resources to help explain this complex disease, information about an annual walk and a stuffed animal with patches to help with injections, ironically it’s name was Ruby.
My mom accessed resources from the organization to help prepare those at my school for my return in September. I was interested in the Walk and invited some friends and family to join me. We went and I wasn’t prepared for the number of people there. I was overwhelmed at the support I saw and felt. So many people all there with one common interest. Suddenly I didn’t feel so alone.
Since then I have been an annual JDRF walk participant and have become more involved. I attended the Dia-beat-it Gala twice and enjoyed having an avenue there to tell my story. Seeing donors contribute to the fight against Type 1 diabetes was empowering.
From there, I was asked to be a youth ambassador. Valuing JDRF’s mission, “Improving lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat type one diabetes and it’s complications”, this designation was such an honour.
I have enjoyed composing social media videos and articles to raise awareness of this disease. Even with the pandemic when the Walk plans had to change, I changed with them. I did a virtual fundraiser talking my brothers into shaving their heads which helped raise $7000.
Once again, the following year, the walk was forced to pivot from what it traditionally had been. With insulin’s discovery 100 years prior it got me thinking. The idea to walk 100 km was born and came to fruition. I trekked for 22 hours straight, gaining lots of attention by media coverage and kind folks driving by honking in their cars.
I was able to use my voice to bring exposure to the realities and struggles that comprise Type 1 diabetes. I also blew my $10,000 fundraising goal out of the water. At the finish line it was announced that I raised a total of just over $28,000. I know those in my community know more about the disease because of me and that is a good feeling. Knowledge is power. That can only make things better for myself and others that live with this disease and until there is a cure that’s what I can ask for.
Celebrating our JDRF National Youth Champions (NYCs)
A very special group of JDRF volunteers consists of amazing teenagers who champion leadership in their communities. Residing across Canada, our 11 JDRF NYCs were selected to spread awareness, advocate on behalf of all Canadians, and empower young people who have been newly diagnosed with T1D.
These deeply motivated volunteers created a T1D myth busting campaign, participated in JDRF events, and launched their own project titled The 100 Project which raised $9,497.00 in just a few short months. These volunteers have been featured on local radio stations, in schools and in numerous local newspapers. They are strong advocates for change, and for a cure. A big thank you to the 2021 NYC volunteers who have created pathways for young people living with T1D across Canada.
“Volunteering as an NYC allowed me the opportunity to meet people with the same goals. I enjoyed being part of the group to fundraise and share my common story with others!” – Miranda DeFazio, NYC
“Being an NYC has been an amazing opportunity. Hearing all the ideas from other type ones on how we can raise awareness and raise money for JDRF has been something I have always wanted to do! I love being able to use my voice for other people in the same situations as me!” – Anika Dyck, NYC
“For me, being a young national champion means getting involved on a larger scale for the cause. It is to take a bigger step, not only by taming my disease, but also by fighting to make known the reality of life with T1D with young people from all across Canada.” – Juliette Benoît, NYC
“Being able to volunteer with JDRF in this role has been nothing but rewarding and empowering! I have so enjoyed having the opportunity to make a difference for type one diabetics in Canada through the fundraising and advocacy work I have gotten to do as a JDRF National Youth Champion. JDRF is helping to change the world, and I am incredibly thankful to have gotten a chance to be a part of that.” – Anne Pettigrew NYC
“Being an NYC means that I can educate and learn from others about T1D! It allows me to raise both funds AND awareness for a cause that I am passionate about and connects me with others who feel the same.”- Aaliyah
And thank you to all our dedicated and passionate volunteers. While we acknowledge our volunteers during this week, we our thankful and grateful for all they do each and every day. They are truly at the heart of JDRF and together will get us closer to a world free from type 1 diabetes.
Making history is not easy. After discovering insulin 100 years ago, Frederick Banting and Charles Best spent tireless nights isolating and purifying it to treat type 1 diabetes (T1D). Their discovery saved millions of lives. Generous donors have fueled further research breakthroughs, yet those living with T1D still require insulin to stay alive. Canada gave the world the first and still only treatment for diabetes – and JDRF knows that it’s now time to give the world a cure.
This is why JDRF has embarked on a campaign to accelerate diabetes research and has invited all Canadians to join us on the path to a cure. In only 20 months, JDRF Canada’s $100M Campaign to Accelerate has reached more than 70% of its goal.
To support the public launch of the Campaign, on Monday, April 4, 2022, five brave Canadians set out to do something historic. They decided to live atop a 40-foot flagpole for 100 hours each as part of our Let’s Make History Again event to help raise awareness and funds in pursuit of a cure for T1D, a disease that affects more than 300,000 Canadians. Located in Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and two in Toronto, the uniqueness of the event and the ingenious construction of the flagpoles generated interest, fascination and helped to raise awareness of the realities of what it’s like to live with T1D.
“Let’s Make History Again is truly a rallying cry for all Canadians who have been impacted by diabetes,” says Dave Prowten, President and CEO of JDRF Canada.
“While the discovery of insulin in Canada 100 years ago has saved millions of lives, it is still only a treatment and not a cure. It is fitting that now is the time to map out the next era of discovery in type 1 diabetes research. Not only will this event provide the funds to accelerate our work finding a cure for this disease, but it’s incredibly inspiring to see so many Canadians and families galvanized by this cause that touches the lives of so many,” he continues.
After facing inhospitable weather and dealing head-on with the unique challenges that come with living atop a flagpole, history was made. The Leaders in History successfully completed the Flagpole 100 Challenge.
In 1990, Peter Oliver was the first to live on top a 40-foot flagpole to raise funds and awareness for type 1 diabetes (T1D), with a goal of raising $250,000. With his leadership and initiative, JDRF reimagined his original campaign to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first successful insulin injection and raise awareness of the 100M Campaign to Accelerate.
“I still remember getting the call when my daughter Vanessa was first diagnosed at the age of six,” says Peter Oliver. “You never forget the moment you learn your child has a disease they will need to manage for the rest of their lives. Ever since, it has been a personal commitment to do everything I can to ensure no other family experiences that moment. I’m so proud of all our Leaders in History, the volunteers and JDRF staff who have worked tirelessly to bring this event back to life. I really believe that we are on the cusp of a cure for diabetes, and it will once again mark an incredible Canadian achievement in medicine,” he continues.
It was an incredible week of excitement, connection, and momentum. The Leaders in History selflessly shared their 100 hours by participating in IG lives, posting to social media, hosting special guests, participating in media interviews, contacting donors by phone all to share what it was like to be atop their flagpole, what the event meant to them, the diabetes technology that has impacted their daily life, and how a cure would change the lives of themselves, their families, and millions of people around the globe.
But they weren’t alone. Camping in solidarity with them were Ambassadors of History families and individuals across the country, and an army of motivated supporters across Canada who also came together to support JDRF’s $100M Campaign to Accelerate.
“There are no words to truly describe what a special week this was for JDRF,” says Prowten.
“It is incredibly exciting to see all the energy around our Let’s Make History Again event. This is such a remarkable accomplishment, with great media coverage, donations and the hard work of our staff and devoted volunteers. I had the honour of visiting the sites – and was so incredibly proud – it truly takes a group of wonderful, dedicated people to make an event like this possible, and that hard work was being witnessed everywhere,” he continues.
JDRF also recognizes James and Louise Temerty, who are generously matching all donations up to $10 million through Temerty Foundation until May 31, 2022. This was the single largest gift to fund T1D research in Canadian history. The donation was made with the hopes of inspiring others to step forward to support diabetes research and bring us closer to a cure.
Their generosity resonated with Susan and Brian Beamish of WB Family Foundation; longtime JDRF supporters who were spurred to make an additional gift of $3M in support of the $100M Campaign to Accelerate.
As of April 21, 2022, the Let’s Make History Again event has raised close to $11 million in support of the most promising T1D research.
This initiative also would not have been possible without JDRF’s volunteers, donors, and corporate partners’ tireless, dedicated support. All five flagpole structures were fabricated and painted entirely by volunteers. As well, all the structural materials, supplies and services were generously donated at no cost to JDRF to bring Peter Oliver’s vision to life. Thank you to everyone involved.
JDRF is deeply grateful to our many supporters uniting for a cure, helping Canada to make history again:
Advocate Printing
Anrep
Atlas Tube
B+H Architects
Bercon Rentals Inc
Canadian Pacific
Chop Steakhouse & Bar
CIBC
Crawford Metal Corp
D. Dyment Haulage
Delsan-AIM
Denny’s
Desjardins Insurance
Equal Parts Hospitality
EXP
Flipp Advertising
Glenform
Gradient Wind Engineering
Groupe Atwill-Morin Inc.
Grouse Mountain Resort
Insulet Corporation
Island Marketing
Janco Steel
Lawlor Safety
Les entreprises d’électricité E.G. Ltée
Menkes
Moduloc Fence Rentals
Moxies
Mulvey & Banani International Inc
Myshak Crane & Rigging
Northern Mat & Bridge LP
Northland Properties
Pomp & Circumstance
PPG Paints Canada
Precision Bolts
Priestly Demolition
Protec Installation Group
Read Jones Christoffersen
Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Richard Steel
RKM Crane Services LTD
Roche Diabetes Care
RTI Industrial Ltd
RWDI
Safety First Consulting
Salit Steel
Sandman Hotel Group
SCAFOM Canada
SDK
Shadeview Structures Inc.
Supersave
Tandem Diabetes Care Canada, Inc.
The Sutton Place Hotels
United Rentals
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Canada)
Westcan Scaffolding Inc
Western Electrical Management Ltd.
It’s never been a more exciting time in T1D research, and with your support, every day we get closer to a world free from type 1 diabetes. Thank you, Canada.
A significant part of JDRF’s research strategy is funding innovative therapies that can lead to treatment for type 1 diabetes (T1D) and eventually a cure. As part of this it was announced on April 6, 2022, that Vancouver, BC, Canada and New York, NY based company Aspect Biosystems (“Aspect”), are partnering to develop a bioengineered tissue therapeutic treatment for T1D. Aspect is a biotechnology company that develops bioengineered tissue therapeutics to transform how diseases are treated.
What is the aim of the partnership?
The JDRF-Aspect partnership supports Aspect’s development of bioengineered tissues that will provide insulin independence and control of blood sugar without the need for chronic immune suppression. In addition to funding, JDRF is also contributing strategic support through its vast network in the diabetes research field.
How does it work?
Diabetes researchers are always searching for a renewable source of insulin-producing cells that could conceivably replace or act as the beta cells that are destroyed in a person with T1D. This would allow them to produce insulin again, and either lessen or ideally eliminate the administration of exogenous (not produced intrinsically by the body) insulin required by someone living with T1D (either by injection, pen, or pump).
The biggest challenges to this are identifying the appropriate stem cell source (i.e., pancreatic cells, or liver cells) and ensuring that not only do they work to produce insulin – but they also won’t be rejected by a person’s immune system. Much like a transplanted organ – most of these kinds of therapies require immunosuppressing medications to prevent rejection.
Aspect is leveraging its proprietary bioprinting technology, therapeutic cells, and materials science to create a pipeline of cell-based tissue therapeutics that replace or repair damaged organ functions. These tissue therapeutics are engineered to be biologically functional, immune-protective, and suitable for surgical implantation to treat diseases such as type 1 diabetes.
In other words – these bioengineered cells could become an external and renewable source of beta cells that could be available to anyone with T1D. Cells that can be safely transplanted and start producing insulin, without the need for any immunosuppression medication, would be a game-changer in T1D treatment.
“For more than 20 years, JDRF has been a leader in cell-based tissue therapy research for type 1 diabetes,” said Esther Latres, Assistant Vice President of Research at JDRFI, of which JDRF Canada is an affiliate organization. “This funding partnership with Aspect Biosystems will support and continue scientific advancements in the field and undeniably take us closer to finding a cure.”
What are the next steps?
The partnership will provide the funding needed to advance Aspect’s cutting-edge pancreatic tissue program. The work proposed by Aspect’s researchers will generate a powerful pre-clinical data-package that will position the company to be ready to initiate the first-in-human trials of this kind of therapy.
It’s never been a more exciting time in T1D scientific discovery. JDRF is so pleased to be part of this ground-breaking research and will provide updates on developments as they become available.
Beginning April 4th, 2022, to honour 100 years since Leonard Thompson received the first successful insulin, injection five volunteers will brave the elements and live atop a 40-foot flagpole for 100 hours to unite Canadians and raise funds for JDRF’s $100 Million Campaign to Accelerate in support of type 1 diabetes (T1D) research.
Why a flagpole? In 1990, Peter Oliver, founder of Oliver & Bonacini and Co-Chair of JDRF’s $100 Million Campaign to Accelerate, lived atop a 40-foot-tall flagpole to raise funds and awareness for T1D. Now, 32 years later, JDRF is recreating this unique event.
T1D is a chronic autoimmune condition in which insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas are mistakenly destroyed by the body’s immune system. T1D seems to have a genetic component and can be diagnosed early in life but also in adulthood. Its causes are not fully known, and there is currently no cure. People with T1D are dependent on injected or pumped insulin to survive.
The Let’s Make History Again event is the public launch of the JDRF’s $100 Million Campaign to Accelerate and aims to raise awareness of the effects of this disease while also raising funds to support critical research. In addition, one hundred families from across Canada who are impacted by T1D, known as ‘100 Ambassador of History’, will be camping and fundraising in solidarity with the five people who are living atop the flagpoles, JDRF’s ‘Leaders in History’.
JDRF was thrilled when Canadian Tire joined the Let’s Make History Again event as the Official Gear Partner. 2022 also marks the 100th anniversary of Canadian Tire, so both of our organizations have a lot to celebrate.
“Canadian Tire Corporation is proud to be supporting JDRF and its Let’s Make History Again campaign. We are here to make life in Canada better, and that includes supporting the many people who are living with type 1 diabetes (T1D),” said Susan O’Brien, Chief Brand and Customer Officer, Canadian Tire Corporation.
Canadian Tire is providing significant funding and product support for the event, outfitting each of the Leaders in History, and their flagpole enclosures with clothing, warm bedding, camping gear and all the items they may need to be more comfortable while atop a 40-foot flagpole for 100 hours. The company is also outfitting onsite staff and volunteers with clothing to keep them warm and comfortable.
Additionally, Canadian Tire provided gift cards to each of the 100 Ambassador of History families and teams, as well as cozy and stylish toques. The cards will help the 100 Ambassadors purchase anything they need to camp, as they help raise funds for ground-breaking diabetes research.
2022 marks Canadian Tire’s 100th birthday, along with the 100th anniversary of the first successful insulin injection – two extremely significant milestones in our country’s history. Being around for 100 years – and having retail locations within a 10-minute drive of the vast majority of Canadians – has allowed Canadian Tire to become a trusted part of people’s lives.
“We are a company that prides itself on being deeply engrained in the communities we serve. From giving kids a sporting chance through Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, to helping Canadians face the unexpected together by providing disaster relief efforts when the unexpected happens, we’re proud to help communities across Canada recover. Knowing that a cure for T1D would truly make life in Canada better for thousands of Canadians, this is a cause we are proud to support. With the work that JDRF is doing, we are hopeful that one day Canada will find a cure,” said Susan O’Brien, Chief Brand and Customer Officer, Canadian Tire Corporation.
JDRF is incredibly grateful for Canadian Tire’s support of the Let’s Make History Again event, helping to fund the most cutting-edge research into cures for T1D.
Canadian Tire Corporation is one of Canada’s most admired and trusted companies. With world-class owned brands and exciting market-leading merchandising strategies, Canadian Tire is continually innovating with purpose: to excite and serve Canadian customers from coast-to-coast.
