JDRF, the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to curing, preventing and treating type 1 diabetes (T1D), was recently selected as a winner of the 2020 Amazon Web Services (AWS) Imagine Grant, a public grant opportunity open to registered 501(c) nonprofit organizations in the United States.

The award goes to nonprofit organizations that are using technology to solve the world’s most pressing challenges.

“We received an inspiring set of applications for this year’s AWS Imagine Grant, representing a diverse set of projects across the nonprofit sector,” said Vice President of Nonprofits and U.S. Government at AWS Dave Levy. “We congratulate our winners, who are doing fantastic work to address important societal challenges. AWS looks forward to collaborating with these amazing organizations and to building, inventing, and reimagining solutions that drive meaningful change.”

JDRF will receive up to $100,000 in unrestricted funding and up to $50,000 in AWS Promotional Credits. This will be in addition to other capacity-building resources, such as training and implementation support.

JDRF will use the grant to help advance its mission to cure and treat T1D and its complications, as well as improve the lives of those living with the disease.

Proposals for the AWS Imagine Grant were judged on several factors, including the innovative and unique nature of the project, impact on mission-critical goals, and clearly-defined outcomes and milestones.

T1D Diagnoses Increasing

According to a 2020 CDC report, the number of people living with T1D in the United States has grown from 1.25 to 1.6 million. Health care costs  and access to and affordability of insulin—as well as advanced technologies that help manage T1D, such as continuous glucose monitors (CGM)—can  present major impediments to improved health outcomes.

This project, in collaboration with AWS and JDRF’s other industry partners, will help JDRF to harness the power of data and technology in its mission to discover and get cures into the hands of people with T1D faster.

 Three key goals of this initiative are:

• Data Access: Make the most meaningful T1D data securely accessible to researchers, clinicians, and key stakeholders/organizations to drive adoption of proven treatments, enhance regulatory pathways and manage T1D effectively.
• Amplify and Accelerate JDRF’s Mission: by enrolling more supporters and advocates and helping to accelerate the discovery, regulatory approval and adoption of cures and disease modifying therapies.
• Enable and inspire innovations in the T1D treatments and cures field by leveraging data and technology across the community to prevent, cure, and treat T1D

“This award is a testament to how we’re driving progress during this challenging time,” said JDRF President and CEO Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D. “In recognizing the advances JDRF is making in leveraging data and technology, the AWS Imagine Grant will help us accelerate novel therapies and cures and get them into the hands of people living with T1D as soon as possible.”

Tackling Critical Challenges

Now in its third year, the AWS Imagine Grant program provides vital resources to nonprofit organizations looking to deploy cloud technology as a central tool to achieve mission goals. As part of the program, AWS seeks proposals for big ideas on how to leverage technology in new and innovative ways to accelerate impact in local and global communities.

Previous winners are currently using AWS services to tackle critical challenges such as finding cures for childhood cancer, stopping illegal fuel dumping in oceans, giving unbanked populations a financial voice, and helping veterans access critical support.

Since the launch of the Imagine Grant program, AWS has awarded over $2.5M in funding, AWS Promotional Credits and AWS training support to 26 nonprofit organizations.

“We at JDRF and our T1D community are excited to receive the AWS Imagine Grant,” said JDRF Chief Data and Technology Officer Sri Mishra. “Collaboration between technology leader AWS and JDRF will open-up tremendous opportunities to help accelerate the discovery and adoption of cures and disease-modifying therapies for T1D.”

Learn more about the AWS Imagine Grant and how previous winning nonprofit organizations are using the award to advance their missions.  

Read the Amazon Web Services announcement about the 2020-2021 recipients of the AWS Imagine Grant.