Dear friends and loyal supporters of JDRF,

2014 has been a watershed year for JDRF research and the year has certainly been one of the most exciting in JDRF’s history! Having conceived the Artificial Pancreas Project back in 2006, this year JDRF has overseen the development of the predictive low-glucose suspend artificial pancreas system, which is distributed in Europe by Medtronic. This year saw the release of the drug Lucentis which reverses diabetic macular edema, and was funded by JDRF in its initial grant in 1998. Merck has announced that SmartInsulin, initially funded by JDRF, has received FDA approval to begin human clinical trials. And last month, ViaCyte, also funded by JDRF, began human trials of its encapsulation device. As if all that were not significant enough, this fall, a JDRF-funded researcher announced the discovery of a near limitless supply of mature islet cells.

For the first 34 years of our history, JDRF was funding basic science to understand the complexities of type 1 diabetes. Since 2004, when we transitioned to doing translational research, we have increased the number of human clinical trials we fund from 4 to more than 50 today. We currently have $587 Million in active research projects in our five key areas of: glucose control, smart insulin, artificial pancreas, encapsulation, and secondary prevention.

Recently, JDRF International Board Chairman, John Brady, addressed our Chapter at a research update at the Philadelphia Union League. After sharing the successes of the past year, he described the 5-7 year pipeline of research progress that our researchers and leadership team have envisioned. This includes commercialization of SmartInsulin, commercialization of treat-to-range artificial pancreas systems, and clinical proof of concept of secondary prevention therapy. In order to realize these goals, JDRF will need an additional $230-500 Million over the next 5-7 years.

The only way we can close this significant funding gap is with your help! However you are currently furthering the work of the foundation–through your time, talents, and treasures–we applaud you and extend to you our heartfelt thanks. But could we also extend to you the challenge to do just a little bit more? Find more people to join our efforts and to give generously. Become an Advocate and enlist others to join you, so we can be sure our NIH funding continues. Remember JDRF in your estate planning. And spread the word that JDRF is the one organization with the research and the plan to lessen the burden of living with type 1 diabetes, until type one becomes type none.

My best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season to you and your loved ones.  I look forward to our continued work together in 2015.

Until there’s a cure,

Bonnie O’Neil

JDRF Eastern PA/DE Board President