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Role of the integrated stress response in type 1 diabetes pathogenesis
In individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D), the insulin-producing beta cells are spontaneously destroyed by their own immune system. The trigger that provokes the immune system to destroy the beta cells is unknown. However, accumulating evidence suggest that signals are perhaps first sent out by the stressed beta cells that eventually attracts the immune cells. Stressed cells adapt different stress mitigation systems as an adaptive response. However, when these adaptive responses go awry, it results in cell death. One of the stress response mechanisms, namely the integrated stress response (ISR) is activated under a variety of stressful stimuli to promote cell survival. However, when ISR is chronically activated, it can be damaging to the cells and can lead to cell death. The role of the ISR in the context of T1D is unknown. Therefore, in this DRC funded study, we propose to study the ISR in the beta cells to determine its role in propagating T1D.
Wearable Skin Fluorescence Imaging Patch for the Detection of Blood Glucose Level on an Engineered Skin Platform
zhang
A Potential Second Cure for T1D by Re-Educating the Patient’s Immune System
L Ferreira
Validating the Hypothesis to Cure T1D by Eliminating the Rejection of Cells From Another Person by Farming Beta Cells From a Patient’s Own Stem Cells
Han Zhu
Taming a Particularly Lethal Category of Cells May Reduce/Eliminate the Onset of T1D
JRDwyer 2022 Lab 1
Can the Inhibition of One Specific Body Gene Prevent Type 1 Diabetes?
Melanie
Is Cholesterol Exacerbating T1D by Reducing the Functionality and Regeneration Ability of Residual Beta Cells?
Regeneration Ability of Residual Beta Cells
A Call to Question… Is T1D Caused by Dysfunctionality of Two Pancreatic Cells (β and α)?
Xin Tong
Novel therapy initiative with potential path to preventing T1D by targeting TWO components of T1D development (autoimmune response and beta-cell survival)
flavia pecanha
All Projects

The DRC Team working hard to cure diabetes

Why Should You Donate

100% of your donation, directed to a research project, will go to that scientist’s laboratory.

Currently 1.6 million Americans live with type 1 diabetes (T1D), including 200,000 children. Approximately 40,000 new patients are diagnosed yearly. Despite this, funding has decreased for research to prevent, cure, and better manage the disease. What diabetes funding is available generally goes to established scientists.

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About Us

We grant up to $50,000 to support each research project.

The Diabetes Research Connection is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in San Diego, California. Established in 2012 by five tireless proponents of diabetes research, our mission is 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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DRC has distributed
approximately $2.4M to research

  • Paige McCready_DRC

    I support Diabetes Research Connection’s innovative and transparent method!

    “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, MFA

    Board of Directors

     

  • Nigel Calcutt

    Your support goes to the brightest and best young scientists!

    “At DRC we ensure that all research projects we advance for potential funding has 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.

  • Mark A

    I Believe The Mission Of The Diabetes Research Connection Is Vital!

    “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 type 1 diabetes 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

  • Agata Jur - UMass

    We Need To Invest In Young Scientists

    “There is a need for increased collaborative efforts to eradicate diabetes. We need to invest in young scientists with new and fresh ideas that are willing to dedicate their career to study 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

  • alberto hayek

    Advancing Efforts of Early-Career Scientists

    “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

  • Amy Adams

    We select the research we believe in!

    “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 Adams
    Donor, Chair of Lay Review Committee, Diabetes Research Connection

  • Dr. David Winkler

    A Personal Reason to Support Diabetes Research

    “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 Winkler
    Chair of the Board, Diabetes Research Connection

  • Dr. Charles King

    Committed To The Cure

    “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. King
    Associate Research Scientist, Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, UCSD


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