From funding innovative research to advocating for government action to providing a support structure for our community, no other organization does more to fight type 1 diabetes (T1D) than JDRF.
Our research investments deliver on the promise of making life with T1D better. We’ve championed technology with that goal in mind, from the first engineered insulin 40 years ago to recent advancements like artificial pancreas systems and more.
Our powerhouse team in Washington, D.C., works with volunteers across the country to secure government support for innovative T1D research. Meanwhile, our experts collaborate with regulators and health plans to help the entire community benefit from treatments and therapies.
"JDRF has supported me in many ways in various aspects throughout my life. It’s not just about raising funds and advancing science, it’s about supporting families. It’s about advocacy and getting CGM [continuous glucose monitoring] approved for the Medicare population. And it’s about this amazing network of individuals, who are brought together for a joint cause they are passionate about.” Jennifer Sherr, M.D., Ph.D., Yale School of Medicine, JDRF-funded Researcher
"JDRF has supported me in many ways in various aspects throughout my life. It’s not just about raising funds and advancing science, it’s about supporting families. It’s about advocacy and getting CGM [continuous glucose monitoring] approved for the Medicare population. And it’s about this amazing network of individuals, who are brought together for a joint cause they are passionate about.”
Jennifer Sherr, M.D., Ph.D., Yale School of Medicine, JDRF-funded Researcher
JDRF has changed the way we live with T1D. Everyday, we are learning more about the disease in an effort to end it once and for all.
Less than 50 years ago, insulins were derived from animals, and dosing was wildly inconsistent.
Synthetic insulins with a range of speeds and durations offer the precision and flexibility to better balance blood-sugar levels.
50 years ago, a prototype insulin pump was so large it had to be worn like a backpack.
Compact insulin pumps fit easily in a pocket—and they’ve gotten smarter too.
30 years ago, there was no way to predict if someone would develop T1D.
It is possible to detect T1D before symptoms arise, avoiding adverse side effects.
For decades, experts believed that beta cells stopped functioning altogether within a few years of T1D onset.
We know beta cells continue to function even after decades with T1D, and it might be possible to cure T1D by preserving or expanding these beta cells.
35 years ago, the risk of vision loss from diabetic eye disease was 50 percent.
State-of-the-art care has cut the risk to 5 percent, and therapies to eliminate the remaining risk are in development.
Without clinical trial volunteers, promising new therapies can’t get approved, and into the hands of people who need them. You can help by participating in a trial near you.
JDRF’s reputation for investing early in revolutionary therapies generates a rush of additional support and funding for the research we back. Think of it this way: When you give to JDRF, you help unlock millions of additional dollars for T1D research.
In the last year, JDRF supporters raised $89 million for T1D research grants — by attending a Gala, fundraising for One Walk, or making a cash donation.
When JDRF backs research, nonprofits follow our lead. In 2017, the Helmsley Charitable Trust partnered with us to launch the most comprehensive kids T1D screening program yet.
When JDRF speaks, Washington listens. Following a campaign by JDRF and our supporters, U.S. Congress agreed to spend $150 million on T1D research as part of the Special Diabetes Program.
Our influence in the private sector extends from the healthcare industry to tech giants. Recently, IBM and JDRF developed and applied machine learning to years of global research data to identify factors leading to the onset of T1D in children.
Your donation to JDRF is the crucial first step in the quest for a cure.
