CFKF will be proudly naming the Breakthrough T1D Canucks For Kids Fund Centre of Excellence at UBC.
VANCOUVER, BC – October 30, 2025 – The Canucks For Kids Fund (CFKF) has made a transformational investment to Breakthrough T1D Canada to support the most promising type 1 diabetes (T1D) cure research, proudly naming the Breakthrough T1D Canucks For Kids Fund Centre of Excellence at UBC. This extraordinary gift builds upon their 20-year history of supporting T1D research in BC and will help the Centre’s team advance its research toward clinical testing of cure therapies.
For decades, the Vancouver Canucks and Canucks For Kids Fund have inspired fans both on and off the ice. Beyond the game, they have shown an extraordinary commitment to giving back to their community, supporting countless charities and causes across British Columbia.
Through the generosity of fans, donors, players, employees, and sponsor partners, CFKF has granted more than $114 million to charities in BC over the past 39 years, transforming lives and strengthening communities.
With that same spirit, the CFKF has made this transformational investment in T1D cure research. A portion of their gift will also be allocated to mental health and diabetes research and initiatives in BC, which the CFKF have generously supported in recent years.
T1D is an autoimmune disease where the pancreas makes little to no insulin. This leads to dependence on insulin therapy and the risk of short and long-term complications, which can include highs and lows in blood glucose levels; damage to the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and heart; and even death. Globally, it impacts nearly 9 million people, and an estimated 300,000 in Canada. Many believe T1D is only diagnosed in childhood and adolescence, but diagnosis in adulthood is common and accounts for over 70% of all T1D diagnoses nationally.
Additionally, Canada has one of the highest rates of diagnosis in the world, and it’s unknown why. The onset of T1D has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, researchers believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. There is currently no cure for T1D, although several promising approaches are showing promise in clinical trials.
When Banting, Best and McLeod discovered insulin in 1921, they gifted the world with the first successful diabetes treatment, saving millions of lives. More than a century later, insulin remains the only effective treatment for T1D; however, it is not a cure.
The Breakthrough T1D Canucks For Kids Fund Centre of Excellence at UBC is laser-focused on developing cures for T1D. It builds on a long-standing partnership between UBC and Breakthrough T1D by creating an environment for sustained interdisciplinary collaboration and that fuels rapid research progress that can change lives. Philanthropic support and a volunteer fundraising committee made up of leaders in BC make this possible.
The Breakthrough T1D Canucks For Kids Fund Centre of Excellence at UBC is focused on advancing immune and beta cell therapies through three integrated and interdependent themes:
- Developing a new source of insulin-producing beta cells.
- Protecting insulin-producing beta cells from immune attack.
- Targeting and monitoring beta cell stress.
The overall goal of the Centre’s research program is to advance new solutions to cure or slow the progression of T1D to the clinical testing stage. The approaches under investigation may also provide benefits to other diseases.
This support from CFKF will help researchers at the Centre further their critical research and help move it from the lab to clinical testing, and ultimately to Canadians with T1D.
Quotes
“We are deeply grateful for CFKF’s vision and commitment to transforming the future of T1D treatment, this extraordinary investment will accelerate the Centre’s efforts to move promising therapies from lab to clinical testing, bringing us closer to delivering meaningful impact for the T1D community.”
– Dr. Sarah Linklater, Chief Scientific Officer of Breakthrough T1D Canada
“We are thrilled and grateful for this visionary commitment from the Canucks For Kids Fund to support the Breakthrough T1D Centre of Excellence at UBC. There has never been a more promising and urgent time in T1D research, as we stand on the cusp of much-needed, life-changing breakthroughs for persons with T1D. This transformative donation of CFKF promises to enable and inspire our team to intensify and accelerate its efforts to find a cure for T1D,”
– Dr. Bruce Verchere, Professor, UBC Departments of Surgery and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Irving K Barber Chair in Diabetes Research, Director, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics; Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute; Co-Director, Breakthrough T1D Centre of Excellence at UBC
“The UBC Faculty of Medicine is inspired by the ingenuity of researchers and the generosity of donors, and deeply grateful for our partnership with Breakthrough T1D. Together, we are accelerating discovery and translating groundbreaking science into life-changing new treatments for people with T1D, bringing us closer to a cure.”
– Dr. Mieke Koehoorn, Dean pro tem of the Faculty of Medicine and interim Vice-President of Health at UBC
“We are so proud to support the life-changing work being done at the Breakthrough T1D Canucks For Kids Fund Centre of Excellence at UBC. Every child deserves the chance to grow, dream, and thrive, and the Canucks For Kids Fund is committed to helping kids in BC get the mental and physical support they need to do just that. We look forward to the day when we can celebrate a cure for type 1 diabetes together.”
– Michael Doyle, President, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, Business Operations & President, Canucks For Kids Fund
About Breakthrough T1D Canada
As the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, Breakthrough T1D helps to make every day better for those living with the disease while driving toward cures.
Since the discovery of insulin, Canada has remained at the forefront of T1D research. Breakthrough T1D is committed to investing in the most promising research, advocating for progress by working with governments to address issues that impact the T1D community, and supporting individuals facing this disease.
About The Canucks For Kids Fund
The Canucks For Kids Fund (CFKF) dedicates resources to assist charities which support children’s health and wellness, education, social impact programming, and the development of grassroots hockey throughout British Columbia. Thanks to the generosity of our fans, donors, players, employees and sponsor partners, the Canucks For Kids Fund has raised more than $114 million for charities in British Columbia over the last 39 years.
About the UBC Faculty of Medicine
Ranked among the world’s top medical schools, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a global leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Guided by our vision—to transform health for everyone—our faculty, learners, staff and alumni are accelerating discovery and creating pathways to better health for Canada and beyond. Through collaboration with our partners, we strive to meet the demands of today and tomorrow, bringing real and lasting hope to people everywhere. For more information, visit med.ubc.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Ruth Kapelus
National Content & Media Relations Manager
Breakthrough T1D Canada
T. 647.789.2322
E. rkapelus@BreakthroughT1D.ca
