Our Projects

Explore our active and successfully funded projects.

Pioneering Breakthroughs in Diabetes Research

Diabetes Research Connection (DRC), are making a significant impact in the fight against diabetes. Each year, countless individuals and their families face the challenging diagnosis of diabetes. Our efforts are dedicated to supporting these communities through groundbreaking research and innovative solutions, aiming to transform the way diabetes is understood.

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100% of your donation is directed to a research project

Currently, 1.6 million Americans live with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), including 200,000 children. Approximately 64,000 new patients are diagnosed yearly. With your backing, we can drive innovation and advancements to find a cure.

Scientists from across the country submit their projects through our website.

DRC has distributed approximately $3M to research

Donor-Driven, Peer-Reviewed, Innovative Diabetes Research

Advancing understanding through DRC

Diabetes Research Connection is at the forefront of funding groundbreaking diabetes research aimed at discovering innovative treatments, therapies, and eventually a cure.

A few words from our supporters

“As a Type 1 Diabetic for nearly 30 years, I support Diabetes Research Connection’s innovative and transparent method of directly funding researchers whose novel approaches may lead to a reduction of complications and the holy grail: a cure”.

PAIGE MCCREADY, MFABoard of Directors

“At DRC we ensure that all research projects we advance for potential funding have received rigorous review by independent experts.  Your support goes to the brightest and best young scientists who are committed to finding a cure for diabetes”.

Nigel Calcutt, PH.D.Vice President and research scientist

“Entering my fourth decade of Type 1 Diabetes research, it is quite remarkable to look back and see how research seeking to identify answers to the questions of how this disease develops and how the disorder could be cured have changed. No one could have envisioned the difficulty of obtaining research funding, especially for young people. For these reasons, I believe the mission of the Diabetes Research Connection is vital! It offers hope for the future of both those with T1D and young investigators committed to making a major change possible. I fully support DRC and am committed to seeing it prosper.”

Mark Atkinson, Ph.D.Director, University of Florida Diabetes Institute

“There is a need for increased collaborative efforts to eradicate diabetes. We need to invest in young scientists with new and fresh ideas who are willing to dedicate their careers to studying diabetes. Federal funding for young investigators in basic research is getting harder to acquire, so private funding is critical to invest in novel ideas to help young scientists in their quest for the cure.”

Agata Jurczyk, Ph.D.University of Massachusetts Medical School

“The Diabetes Research Connection will advance the efforts of early-career scientists whose innovative proposals for diabetes investigations might be overlooked by government funding agencies in favor of more conventional research.”

Alberto Hayek, M.D.Professor Emeritus, UC San Diego

“We support the Diabetes Research Connection because it affords us the rare opportunity to select the research that we believe in and to better understand it by interacting with the very scientists who will DO the research.”

Amy AdamsDonor, Chair of Lay Review Committee, Diabetes Research Connection

“Several of my family members have or had diabetes. I have lived with T1D for over 50 years. I am committed to ensuring that the Diabetes Research Connection becomes one of the most significant forces funding innovative diabetes research that will rid the planet of this disease and its complications.”

David WinklerChair of the Board, Diabetes Research Connection

“The Diabetes Research Connection is a powerful breeding ground for new ideas in T1D research in the context of a supportive and enthusiastic community of donors.”

C.C. KingAssociate Research Scientist, Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, UCSD

“I love the concept behind this website and organization: funding young scientists to pursue new, but fully vetted ideas in type 1 diabetes research. We need to continue to feed the developmental pipeline for research scientists and ideas in Type 1. I love the idea of choosing where (to whom) my money goes and hearing directly from them.”

Chris StiehlSupporter

“This is a fantastic new method for funding scientific endeavors and represents a paradigm shift for supporting innovative basic diabetes research. The Diabetes Research Connection will expedite the discovery process and ensure funding for the next generation of promising young researchers, leading to discoveries and ways in which to prevent and cure Type 1 Diabetes.”

Ivan GaylerDonor

“I am passionate about User Experience and developing technologies that create meaningful communities that are focused on making a difference. So I am thrilled at this groundbreaking effort to revolutionize how we fund diabetes research. Most important to me is the effort to bridge the gap between scientists and supporters to cultivate a community of connection. The Diabetes Research Connection aspires to create a community of compassion and care that will lead us to the cure. It will revolutionize the link between the champions that are supporting our fight for the cure and the researchers that are waging our war for progress.”

Jarryd WaferSenior Designer at FindTheBest.com

The Diabetes Research Connection is a tremendous new way to fund brilliant young research investigators in the early stages of their careers — when they need our support the most. These fresh, innovative minds will spearhead scientific discoveries and will ensure that we have a robust diabetes drug/device pipeline for years to come. I applaud the founders of DRC for creating this important new resource that empowers donors to fund researchers directly, and for offering transparency to the entire funding process.

Lorraine StiehlDiabetes Research Advocate, Board Member JDRF, Board Member Diabetes Hands Foundation

“DRC fills a void in our Type 1 Diabetes funding scheme – it allows for postdoctoral and early investigators to get their ideas out to the interested public and to provide much-needed funds for this next generation researcher to conduct their important studies.”

Matthias Hebrok, Ph.D.Director, Diabetes Center, UC of San Francisco

In this time of funding difficulty, the Diabetes Research Connection is a novel way to obtain funding and a great way for scientists to communicate their exciting ideas with the public. Scientists need to branch out and explore new funding mechanisms.

Maureen Gannon, Ph.D.Vanderbilt University, Associate Professor of Medicine, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, and Cell and Developmental Biology

“It was a pleasure working with the Diabetes Research Connection. This was one of the fastest reviews! I thank the Diabetes Research Connection for their support, reviews, and feedback. The comments on the pre-proposal were very helpful in refining and clarifying my thoughts and experimental plan, and the input provided by the Layperson Committee on my video helped me produce something with a much stronger chance of attracting potential donors. I am delighted to have received this opportunity.”

Sangeeta Dhawan, Ph.D.University of California Los Angeles

“Thanks to the Diabetes Research Connection, I was able to undertake my investigation, ‘Can we engineer a patient’s immune cells to stop the autoimmune attack that causes Type 1 Diabetes?’ The Brusko lab is incredibly grateful for the $50,000 we received to drive this exciting research project forward.”

Todd Brusko, Ph.D.University of Florida
Can the Inhibition of One Specific Body Gene Prevent Type 1 Diabetes? (Melanie Shapiro)

Can the Inhibition of One Specific Body Gene Prevent Type 1 Diabetes? (Melanie Shapiro)

Taming a Particularly Lethal Category of Cells May Reduce/Eliminate the Onset of T1D (Dr. J. Dwyer)

Taming a Particularly Lethal Category of Cells May Reduce/Eliminate the Onset of T1D (Dr. J. Dwyer)

A Potential Second Cure for T1D by Re-Educating the Patient’s Immune System (Dr. Leonardo Ferreira)

A Potential Second Cure for T1D by Re-Educating the Patient’s Immune System (Dr. Leonardo Ferreira)

Stakeholder-Engaged Precision Health for Longevity and Healthy Aging with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)

Stakeholder-Engaged Precision Health for Longevity and Healthy Aging with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)

Dr. Han Zhu's Project

Dr. Han Zhu’s Project

Dr. Sandra Mara Ferreira's Project

Dr. Sandra Mara Ferreira’s Project

News

Thanks to our sponsors, donors, and volunteers, DRC’s Dance for Diabetes raised

$425,000+

for Type 1 Diabetes research
Type 1 Diabetes affects more than blood sugar—it impacts mental health too. This World Mental Health Day, let’s champion emotional well-being alongside physical care.💚

Type 1 Diabetes affects more than blood sugar—it impacts mental health too. This World Mental Health Day, let’s champion emotional well-being alongside physical care.💚

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Halloween is one of the most exciting times for kids, filled with fun costumes, festive activities, and candy. However, for children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their families, Halloween can come with extra considerations. The combination of candy and excitement can cause unpredictable blood sugar levels, but kids with T1D shouldn’t miss out on the fun. Children with T1D can still enjoy Halloween safely with careful planning. Our new blog will share practical tips for navigating Halloween with T1D, from planning to managing post-Halloween blood sugar: https://ow.ly/w2Eo50TAg1i

Halloween is one of the most exciting times for kids, filled with fun costumes, festive activities, and candy. However, for children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their families, Halloween can come with extra considerations. The combination of candy and excitement can cause unpredictable blood sugar levels, but kids with T1D shouldn’t miss out on the fun. Children with T1D can still enjoy Halloween safely with careful planning. Our new blog will share practical tips for navigating Halloween with T1D, from planning to managing post-Halloween blood sugar: https://ow.ly/w2Eo50TAg1i

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Read our 2023 Annual Report here: https://ow.ly/hlps50TBwuS

Read our 2023 Annual Report here: https://ow.ly/hlps50TBwuS

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Insulin For Life is collecting supplies to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene.  For information on accepted donations and how to contribute, please visit their website here: https://iflusa.org/donate-supplies/

Insulin For Life is collecting supplies to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene. For information on accepted donations and how to contribute, please visit their website here: https://iflusa.org/donate-supplies/

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As flu season begins, it brings additional concerns for individuals managing type 1 diabetes (T1D). Viruses, particularly the flu, can cause unpredictable blood sugar fluctuations and increase the risk of severe complications, making it a critical time for those with T1D to take extra precautions. Learn about the importance of getting the flu vaccine for T1Ds in our new blog: https://ow.ly/f4Fw50TAfMF

As flu season begins, it brings additional concerns for individuals managing type 1 diabetes (T1D). Viruses, particularly the flu, can cause unpredictable blood sugar fluctuations and increase the risk of severe complications, making it a critical time for those with T1D to take extra precautions. Learn about the importance of getting the flu vaccine for T1Ds in our new blog: https://ow.ly/f4Fw50TAfMF

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DRC is proud of our significant impact in the world of type 1 diabetes research. 🧑‍🔬

Read our full 2023 Annual Report here: https://diabetesresearchconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2023_Annual_Report-Final.pdf

DRC is proud of our significant impact in the world of type 1 diabetes research. 🧑‍🔬

Read our full 2023 Annual Report here: https://diabetesresearchconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2023_Annual_Report-Final.pdf

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September marks National Preparedness Month, a time when everyone is encouraged to take steps to prepare for emergencies. For people with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), this month is an important reminder to stay proactive about managing their health, particularly during unexpected events like natural disasters, power outages, or travel disruptions. Having a plan can significantly reduce the risks and challenges associated with T1D. Our new blog, "Emergency T1D Planning," will walk through essential strategies to help you stay prepared, including creating a diabetes emergency kit, safeguarding your insulin during power outages, and developing a robust plan for various emergencies: https://ow.ly/gK4850Tqg5i

September marks National Preparedness Month, a time when everyone is encouraged to take steps to prepare for emergencies. For people with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), this month is an important reminder to stay proactive about managing their health, particularly during unexpected events like natural disasters, power outages, or travel disruptions. Having a plan can significantly reduce the risks and challenges associated with T1D. Our new blog, “Emergency T1D Planning,” will walk through essential strategies to help you stay prepared, including creating a diabetes emergency kit, safeguarding your insulin during power outages, and developing a robust plan for various emergencies: https://ow.ly/gK4850Tqg5i

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September marks the beginning of a new academic year, with students nationwide starting their college journeys. For those managing Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), this time of year brings unique challenges alongside the excitement. With the right support, you can thrive in your college environment. Our new blog, "Top Tips for College and T1D Management," provides practical tips to help you navigate college life while keeping your T1D under control, ensuring you stay healthy and focused on your academic goals. 📚Read here: https://ow.ly/kT0550TqfJA

September marks the beginning of a new academic year, with students nationwide starting their college journeys. For those managing Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), this time of year brings unique challenges alongside the excitement. With the right support, you can thrive in your college environment. Our new blog, “Top Tips for College and T1D Management,” provides practical tips to help you navigate college life while keeping your T1D under control, ensuring you stay healthy and focused on your academic goals. 📚Read here: https://ow.ly/kT0550TqfJA

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Our mission: to connect donors with early-career scientists enabling them to perform peer-reviewed, novel research designed to prevent and cure Type 1 Diabetes, minimize its complications and improve the quality of life for those living with the disease.🔬

Our mission: to connect donors with early-career scientists enabling them to perform peer-reviewed, novel research designed to prevent and cure Type 1 Diabetes, minimize its complications and improve the quality of life for those living with the disease.🔬

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We had a blast with all of our supporters last night at the 2024 Dance for Diabetes! Thank you for dancing the night away with us while helping fight to end type 1 diabetes. See you next year!

We had a blast with all of our supporters last night at the 2024 Dance for Diabetes! Thank you for dancing the night away with us while helping fight to end type 1 diabetes. See you next year!

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Today is the day! Get your dancing shoes on for our 2024 Dance for Diabetes fundraiser. 🕺

WHEN: TONIGHT at 5:00PM.
WHERE: Green Acre, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA 92121

Learn more and register: https://ow.ly/CluR50SSpr5

Today is the day! Get your dancing shoes on for our 2024 Dance for Diabetes fundraiser. 🕺

WHEN: TONIGHT at 5:00PM.
WHERE: Green Acre, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA 92121

Learn more and register: https://ow.ly/CluR50SSpr5

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Friendly reminder! Our Dance for Diabetes fundraiser is just one week away! Join us for a night of dancing, live music, great food, fun auction items, and supporting type 1 diabetes research. See you there! Register at the link in our bio. 

#DanceForDiabetes #SupportResearch #FindACure

Friendly reminder! Our Dance for Diabetes fundraiser is just one week away! Join us for a night of dancing, live music, great food, fun auction items, and supporting type 1 diabetes research. See you there! Register at the link in our bio.

#DanceForDiabetes #SupportResearch #FindACure

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A huge thank you to all our incredible sponsors for making the 2024 Dance for Diabetes possible! Your generosity drives our mission to raise awareness and support for the Type 1 Diabetes community. We couldn't do it without you. 💙

A huge thank you to all our incredible sponsors for making the 2024 Dance for Diabetes possible! Your generosity drives our mission to raise awareness and support for the Type 1 Diabetes community. We couldn`t do it without you. 💙

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We are so excited to have Republic of Music at our 2024 Dance for Diabetes! Voted the BEST Dance Band in San Diego, it is sure to be a fun night. 🎶

Register for the event at the link in our bio.

We are so excited to have Republic of Music at our 2024 Dance for Diabetes! Voted the BEST Dance Band in San Diego, it is sure to be a fun night. 🎶

Register for the event at the link in our bio.

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Thank you to Tandem Diabetes Care for sponsoring our 2024 Dance for Diabetes! Your support empowers us to keep moving, raising awareness, and making a difference in the lives of those with Type 1 Diabetes. Together, we're dancing towards a brighter future! @tandemdiabetes

Thank you to Tandem Diabetes Care for sponsoring our 2024 Dance for Diabetes! Your support empowers us to keep moving, raising awareness, and making a difference in the lives of those with Type 1 Diabetes. Together, we`re dancing towards a brighter future! @tandemdiabetes

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Are you ready to groove?💃 Join us in two weeks for our 2024 Dance for Diabetes on Saturday, September 7th! Register at the link in our bio.

Are you ready to groove?💃 Join us in two weeks for our 2024 Dance for Diabetes on Saturday, September 7th! Register at the link in our bio.

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Take a step inside our 2023 Dance for Diabetes! We had such a fun time at our tropical oasis last year. 🏖️🌺

Don't miss out on our event this year on September 7th! Join us for our annual Dance for Diabetes fundraiser as we move and groove to support research for a cure for type 1 diabetes. Register at the link in our bio today and help us make a difference!

Take a step inside our 2023 Dance for Diabetes! We had such a fun time at our tropical oasis last year. 🏖️🌺

Don`t miss out on our event this year on September 7th! Join us for our annual Dance for Diabetes fundraiser as we move and groove to support research for a cure for type 1 diabetes. Register at the link in our bio today and help us make a difference!

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As summer comes to an end, the new school year is almost upon us. For students with Type 1 diabetes (T1D), this time can bring a mix of excitement and anxiety. While starting school with T1D involves managing health and academics, a significant part of the challenge comes from dealing with stigma and fostering self-advocacy. This blog focuses on understanding where potential stigma originates and how students with T1D can build the confidence to communicate their needs effectively. Fostering mutual learning and understanding can help students with T1D thrive academically and personally.

As summer comes to an end, the new school year is almost upon us. For students with Type 1 diabetes (T1D), this time can bring a mix of excitement and anxiety. While starting school with T1D involves managing health and academics, a significant part of the challenge comes from dealing with stigma and fostering self-advocacy. This blog focuses on understanding where potential stigma originates and how students with T1D can build the confidence to communicate their needs effectively. Fostering mutual learning and understanding can help students with T1D thrive academically and personally.

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