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Diabetes Research

DRC Announces 2022 Scientific Review Committee

74 type 1 diabetes (T1D) experts from renowned universities and research institutions across U.S. make up this year’s committee to vet innovative T1D research for funding by DRC

SAN DIEGO – February 28, 2022 – Diabetes Research Connection (DRC), a 501(c)(3) that funds research projects conducted by early-career scientists aimed at prevention, better care, treatment of related complications, and a cure for T1D, announces its Scientific Review Committee (SRC) for 2022.

The DRC SRC is a collaboration of T1D experts from renowned universities and research institutions from across the country. The committee members volunteer their expertise and time to thoroughly vet T1D research funding applications DRC receives based on their scientific merit. See the full list of DRC SRC members here.

“I’m honored to be a DRC SRC member. The warmth of the DRC community is unique. It brings scientists, patients, families, doctors, and supporters together. It also gives courage to scientists taking unconventional approaches toward solutions for T1D,” says Dr. Yo Suzuki of J. Craig Venter Institute. “I am forever thankful for the support DRC gave me when I was developing a nascent research idea. I hope to contribute my biological engineering perspectives, which may be non-standard in T1D research, to helping guide future research directions.”

DRC Board Member and previous Scientific Director Alberto Hayek, M.D. says, “These talented scientists and diabetes experts are at the center of our mission. Through their focused and rigorous vetting of projects submitted to DRC for financial support, we are able to provide seed funding to those most likely to find the cause, better treatments, and ultimately, a cure for T1D.”

In 2021 alone, DRC provided seed funding for 16 new T1D research projects, bringing the total support of early-career scientists to almost $2M. Follow on funding, a critical measure of the viability of projects funded by DRC, has topped $8.4M in additional funds for T1D research.

DRC is supported by donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and private and public foundations. Contact us to discover how you can support DRC’s mission to eliminate T1D.

To donate online today click here.

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OUR PROJECTS

See our approved research projects and campaigns.

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