Our Impact
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.
Research
Our research investments deliver on the promise of making life with Type 1 Diabetes 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.
Learn More about ResearchAdvocacy
Our powerhouse team in Washington, D.C., works with volunteers across the country to secure government support for innovative Type 1 Diabetes research. Meanwhile, our experts collaborate with regulators and health plans to help the entire community benefit from treatments and therapies.
Learn More about Advocacy
The Outlook has Never Been Better
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.
Insulins
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.
Pumps
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.
Biomarkers
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.
Beta Cell Biology
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.
Diabetic Eye Disease
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.
You Too Can Make a Difference
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.
Leveraging Our Leadership: Increased Support for T1D Research
Through our advocacy and research leadership, JDRF influences and attracts others to support funding for cures and improving lives. For every dollar that JDRF puts towards research, we pull in nearly $2.50 more. In fiscal year 2019, that totaled $414.5M.
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JDRF | $121.5 million
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NGOs and Foundations | $31 million
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Industry Partners | $80 million
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Governments | $182 million
Your donation to JDRF is the crucial first step in the quest for a cure.