JDRF and Dexcom announced that they have formed a partnership whose goal is to accelerate the development of a novel wireless “smart transmitter” that would allow a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) system to communicate directly with an artificial pancreas control device currently being used for research studies, instead of only with a CGM receiver.   JDRF will provide Dexcom up to $500,000 over 12 months in milestone-based funding to complete the development, testing, and manufacturing of a custom “smart transmitter” prototype,...

JDRF-funded scientists from the Indiana University School of Medicine have found that a specific type of cellular stress takes place in pancreatic beta cells before the onset of type 1 diabetes and this stress response in the beta cell may in fact help ignite the autoimmune attack. These findings shed an entirely new light into the mystery behind how changes in the beta cell may play a role in the earliest stages of  type 1 diabetes, and adds a new perspective to the understanding of how type 1 diabetes progresses, and how to...

On Feb. 18 I moderated the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Capitol Chapter’s second annual Research Summit on type 1 diabetes. My first question when I got the call to moderate was, “Why me?” (Not unlike the response I had to my diagnosis of type 1 diabetes 40 years ago.) And I wasn’t just fishing for compliments. Most of my work in diabetes is in building emotional resilience and behavior change. Science? Beta Cells? Islet cell infusions? I don’t even wear an insulin pump and I tried a continuous...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first outpatient artificial pancreas trial in the United States, marking a critical development in the effort by JDRF and its allies to bring this innovative and lifesaving diabetes technology to people with type 1 diabetes.   The JDRF-funded study will test an artificial pancreas system’s ability to function outside of a hospital setting, and is similar to the current outpatient trials being conducted in Europe.     The study is part of the first outpatient trials...

KalVista Pharmaceuticals (“KalVista”) and JDRF have formed a research partnership focused on a novel approach being developed by KalVista to preserve vision and slow the progression of diabetic eye disease. Diabetic eye disease is one of the most common and most serious complications in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). JDRF will provide up to $2.2 million inmilestone-based financial support and research expertise to KalVista. The goal of this partnership is to advanceKalVista’s lead pre-clinical candidate, a plasma kallikrein...

One year after Osiris Therapeutics in partnership with JDRF started the Phase 2 trial evaluating Prochymal, a formulation of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes patients, the company has released a statement providing an update on this groundbreaking trial. This first-of-its kind trial is testing MSCs from unrelated adult donors in 63 pediatric and adult patients to assess the safety of MSCs in this population and whether the treatment shows signs of slowing progression of the disease.    Prochymal...

JDRF announced it will support a pioneering diabetes research program that is developing a first-of-its-kind cell therapy for type 1 diabetes and other forms of insulin-dependent diabetes. The therapy is a combination product that packages immature cells made from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) that over time develop into mature pancreatic hormone producing cells (pro-islet) including insulin-producing cells. The research is an important step toward producing an unlimited source of insulin-producing cells that could serve as replacements...

JDRF-funded researchers have begun enrolling adult patients with type 1 diabetes in the REMOVAL study, to test whether metformin-a drug commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes-could help prevent or reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications in people with type 1 diabetes. The REMOVAL study (Reducing with MetfOrmin Vascular Adverse Lesions in type 1 diabetes) is a multi-center, international trial that will study 500 patients with type 1 diabetes aged 40 or older, a patient group known to be at higher risk for cardiovascular...

JDRF has partnered with over 700 online stores to raise money for diabetes research.  To participate in this fundraiser all you have to do is  download the JDRF toolbar, visit the sites of participating merchants, and shop. Every time you make a purchase, JDRF will receive 1%-5% of the price.  Not only will the the cost of your purchases not go up, but you’ll also be eligible to receive special offers. Participating stores include: Target, PetSmart, Starbucks, Robeez Footwear (so cute!), Disney Store, Office Deopt, and so...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued draft guidance designed to help investigators and manufacturers as they develop and seek approval for artificial pancreas device systems to treat type 1 diabetes. This step comes after a large campaign led by the Juvenile Diabetes research Foundation (JDRF) pushing the FDA to set reasonable guidelines for the development of the artificial pancreas. JDRF’s campaign included a petition signed by 110,000 diabetes advocates asking the FDA to issue draft guidance by December 1, as...