To drive our mission forward, Breakthrough T1D financially supports type 1 diabetes (T1D) research through training awards and grants to academic scientists or clinicians, investments in promising companies, conference support, and more. Here, we take a deeper dive specifically into our training awards offered to early-stage researchers to understand the impact and outcomes that these awards have on individual careers and T1D research as a whole.

Why did we conduct this survey?

Training awards are a key part of Breakthrough T1D’s grants portfolio. These awards support early-career scientists and clinical researchers to explore promising ideas and encourage trainees to follow career paths that drive T1D research forward. Our approach is designed to provide opportunities to support trainees from an early postdoctoral stage (after receiving a higher degree) to transitioning to an independent lab and career as a T1D researcher.

Breakthrough T1D previously conducted surveys analyzing the impact and outcomes of training awards completed between 1974 to 2014, revealing that these awards encouraged long-term pursuit of a career in T1D. The current survey included an expanded analysis on training awards completed between 2015 to 2024. The results provide a broader understanding of how our financial support impacts research outcomes, career paths, and additional funding secured by awardees. This way, we can ensure that our funds for trainees are being used in the best way possible, supporting the best and brightest researchers and ideas that drive our mission forward now and in the future.

Survey methodology

From 2015 to 2024…

Types of training awards surveyed

Of the total training awards funded between 2015 to 2024, this survey is a reflection of 135 respondents (60%) covering 162 awards. Respondent data was analyzed, mapped, and reported.

Impacts on career trajectories

Impacts on research outcomes

Research supported by training awards resulted in a variety of outcomes that could benefit the larger scientific community and drive T1D research forward. Readouts of successful research include peer-reviewed journal publications, clinical trials, patents, collaborations, resources, grant review requests, and research honors or recognitions.

Impacts on securing additional funding

Breakthrough T1D training awards help early-career researchers continue an engaging and successful career in diabetes research. This is an important factor in securing further funding after the awards end, which helps researchers and clinicians maintain the ability to continue critical research that helps drive our mission forward.

Overall impacts on early career development

Training awards are key to achieving our mission

Based on these data, it’s clear that Breakthrough T1D’s training awards impact early-career researchers and clinicians across the board: from career development, to training the next generation, to securing additional research funding, to publishing more papers.

This is exemplified by feedback from trainees. Some reported that Breakthrough T1D’s training awards are the best in their class and are critical for T1D research, including the ability to execute niche projects that other funding agencies would not support. Most respondents reported being immensely grateful for their training awards. See what some of the awardees have to say:

“Unequivocally, the award launched my career as a diabetes researcher.”

–Danielle Dean, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellowship Award recipient

“I am now fortunate to have mentees below me (one of whom received a Career Development Award). So not only did this award help me, but it helped establish an enduring source for new trainees interested in diabetes research.”

–Jeremy Pettus, M.D., Kellogg Family Early Career Patient-Oriented Diabetes Research Award recipient

“[I have made] International collaborations … research institutions and biotech companies to advance therapy development… partnerships across Europe, Asia, and the U.S.”

–Luis Arnes, Ph.D., Advanced Post Doctoral Fellowship and Transition Award recipient

Not only do these awards help retain talent in diabetes research, but they also help awardees maintain connections with Breakthrough T1D as a whole—outside of seeking financial support. Training award recipients have presented research updates at local events, participated in Breakthrough T1D fundraising activities, and supported our advocacy efforts. We are helping to build the next generation of T1D researchers, advocates, T1D community supporters, and more—all working toward the same goal of a world without T1D.

This survey has put into context where our money is going—and it’s going to the right places. Helping to train the next generation of scientists and clinicians is key to the success of our mission. We’re seeing significant returns on our investments, embodied by trainees securing substantial funding for ongoing T1D research, the creation of shareable resources that will help drive research forward and increase collaboration, and the success of our awardees in securing desirable jobs and leadership positions.

We put our time and money into identifying the best-and-brightest scientists and ideas, encourage them to stay in the field, and guide them as they pass the torch to the upcoming talented pool of young T1D researchers. We support scientists so they can do the important work that will help people with T1D live better lives—and maybe one day live without T1D. And, most importantly, we wouldn’t be able to do this without YOU: our supporters, our donors, and the entire T1D community that allows us to do what we do every day—improve the lives of people with T1D as we drive towards a cure. Thank you.

There is always breaking, inspiring news in the world of type 1 diabetes (T1D) research—and that news was front and center at the 2025 European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Meeting.

This annual event is one of the largest diabetes conferences in the world, and Breakthrough T1D staff, partners, funded researchers, and more were there to participate, share new data, and stay current on the state of T1D and the path to cures.

At EASD 2025, we heard the best and the brightest in T1D present on every area of our Mission priorities, from advances in cell therapies to building consensus around general population screening for T1D.

Check out the highlights below!

Long-awaited updates on two disease-modifying therapies: ATG and verapamil

Excitingly, the results from the MELD-ATG and Ver-A-T1D clinical trials were presented at EASD, co-chaired by our very own Sanjoy Dutta, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Breakthrough T1D. Each of these studies were made possible through a collaboration between INNODIA, Breakthrough T1D, the Helmsley Charitable Trust, industry, the European Commission’s Innovative Medicines/Health Initiative (IMI/IHI), and investigators around the world. Each of these studies incorporated the INNODIA master protocol, an effort to align on clinical trial design and evaluation for investigational therapies for newly diagnosed T1D.

The phase 2 MELD-ATG study, presented by Chantal Mathieu, M.D., Ph.D., investigated whether a minimal low dose of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) could preserve beta cells in children, adolescents, and young adults (5-25 years old) newly diagnosed with clinical stage 3 T1D. ATG works by blocking the immune cells that destroy beta cells. Here’s a summary of the recently published data:

• Using an adaptive clinical trial design, the study examined multiple doses of ATG at once, eventually moving forward with 0.5 mg/kg and 2.5 mg/kg in comparison to placebo.
• The minimal effective low dose for ATG is 0.5 mg/kg. This dose had fewer side effects compared to the higher doses, and it was generally well-tolerated.
• Participants who received low dose ATG demonstrated clinically significant higher C-peptide levels during the treatment period compared to placebo. This was accompanied by lower HbA1c levels.

The phase 2 Ver-A-T1D study, presented by Thomas Pieber, M.D., investigated whether verapamil could preserve beta cells in adults (18-44 years old) with newly diagnosed stage 3 T1D. Verapamil is a blood pressure medication that may also reduce beta cell stress, and initial clinical studies suggest that it may protect beta cells in newly diagnosed T1D. The key findings presented are:

• At 12 months, there was no statistically meaningful difference in C-peptide levels between those who were treated with verapamil versus placebo. This was accompanied by no differences in insulin dose or continuous glucose monitor (CGM) metrics. There was a trend toward better C-peptide preservation in the treatment arm compared to placebo but missed statistical significance marginally.
• Verapamil was generally safe and well-tolerated, with no unexpected adverse events but some reported mild and reversible cardiac disorders.
• The study investigators concluded that future studies testing verapamil in T1D require a larger population and longer duration—and that verapamil may be a candidate to combine with immunomodulatory disease-modifying therapies.
• The Ver-A-Long extension study will follow people who continued with verapamil treatment after this trial ended.

Emerging consensus for screening the general population for T1D

In this session, Marian Rewers, M.D., Ph.D., Anette Ziegler, M.D.,and Chantal Mathieu, M.D., Ph.D., provided an overview of soon-to-be-published consensus screening guidance for the general population. These presentations highlighted an urgent need for population-level screening given the rising global incidence of T1D and the known benefits of early detection, including time to prepare and potentially delay disease progression.

T1D autoantibodies

Autoantibodies are proteins that may signal that the body’s immune system is attacking insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, and they can easily be measured by a blood test. If a person has two or more persistent autoantibodies, it’s very likely they’ll develop T1D.

The presenters discussed benefits, harms, and methods of T1D screening; who should be screened and how often; and how to effectively communicate screening results. Some notable takeaways:

• Early detection of T1D—prior to clinical onset and at the time of diagnosis or later—has enormous benefits, including prevention of diabetic ketoacidosis, opportunities to delay progression with approved therapies or experimental therapies in clinical trials, early control of hyperglycemia that can reduce the risk of complications, and more.
• Providing support during the screening process will be important, such as mitigating pain associated with obtaining blood samples or reducing anxiety.
• Every initial screening result must be confirmed with another test before diagnosis.
• Infrastructure and policy must be in place before population-level screening can be implemented into clinical practice, including established processes for confirming positive test results, monitoring people with diagnosed early-stage T1D, and referring people to specialists.
• General population screening is suggested starting at 2-4 years old, and again at 6-8 years old and 10-15 years old if negative for autoantibodies.
• Healthcare providers (HCPs) need to be knowledgeable on key aspects of the screening process—and be able to effectively communicate what screening results mean.

Cell therapies are coming

Cell Therapies replace destroyed beta cells with external cells that make insulin and protect them so that they can function for a very long time. It’s one of our primary strategies to achieve cures for T1D—as exemplified by Project Accelerate Cell Therapies.

Our goal is to grow these cells in a laboratory and discover a way to keep them safe inside the body without the need for chronic immunosuppression. EASD provided several reminders that these therapies are not science fiction—they’re working in clinical trials, and we must continue to push these first-generation therapies—and future generations—across the finish line.

Vertex and zimislecel

Attendees at EASD were treated to another presentation demonstrating the efficacy of Vertex’s zimislecel, a manufactured islet cell replacement therapy. Michiel Nijhoff, M.D., presented some highlights from the FORWARD study, all of which were previously presented at other diabetes conferences and published in the New England Journal of Medicine [subscription required] this summer.

This chart does an excellent job illustrating the drastic improvement in glucose control in the year following transplantation of the cells. As does this stat: the 12 individuals in the first phase of the study went from 55.5% time in range and 36.1 units of insulin per day at the start of the study to 95% time in range and 0 units of insulin per day after one year.

Breakthrough T1D’s support for Doug Melton, Ph.D.—whose proprietary lab-created beta cells are now being advanced by Vertex—goes back decades, both via research grants and an investment from the T1D Fund: A Breakthrough T1D Venture. We can’t wait to see more data when the Phase 1/2/3 trial is completed in the coming months.

Multiple strategies moving forward

Several other investigators shared data on their approaches to bringing scalable cell therapies to people with T1D. This includes:

• Matthis Hebrok, Ph.D., a longtime Breakthrough T1D collaborator, showed his research on hypoimmune, gene-edited islets. These cells are genetically engineered to avoid the immune system.
• Maria Nostro, Ph.D., another Breakthrough T1D-funded researcher, is using a different protection strategy: macrophages. Macrophages are a type of white blood cell that we have learned are present in the developing pancreas. The idea here is that we can implant the macrophages alongside the beta cells during islet transplant and it will help protect and vascularize the cells. This research is still pre-clinical but represents another “shot on goal” to keep these cells safe.
• Orizuru Therapeutics (a T1D Fund Company) presented on OZTx-410, an investigational cell therapy composed of human manufactured islets derived from adult cells that were reprogrammed to precursor cells and eventually islets. This is one of the first cell therapies for T1D derived from reprogrammed adult cells, and this therapy is suitable for manufacturing at large scale. Earlier this year, these cells were implanted into a person with T1D as multiple “sheets” in the abdominal wall. Orizuru expects to share results in the coming months.
• Allarta, a company with Breakthrough T1D funding, shared pre-clinical data on their hydrogel, which allows islet transplants without the use of immunosuppression. Their product is showing efficacy in animal models, and they are progressing towards human clinical studies.

Breakthrough T1D spotlight: Personal journeys and emerging T1D therapies

Breakthrough T1D’s Chief of Global Medical Affairs, Thomas Danne, M.D., Ph.D., hosted an interactive workshop for participants to better understand the personal journeys of people with T1D through videos from T1D community members and their families. Dr. Danne—along with other Breakthrough T1D staff and in conjunction with Eelco J.P. de Koning, M.D., Ph.D., and Valera Sordi, Ph.D.—fielded questions from the audience and covered topics spanning immunosuppression, how islets are derived from donor pancreases, T1D screening, and more.

Continuous ketone monitoring is coming – for good reason!

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious and, unfortunately, too-common complication of life with T1D. This dangerous condition happens when the body does not have enough insulin. DKA is life-threatening and costly.

Breakthrough T1D-funded research Jennifer Sherr, M.D., Ph.D., presented this, outlining that this is a problem and that there is room for improvement in identifying DKA and agreeing on the interventions. We need better mitigation strategies, and if we get them, people will do better.

Breakthrough T1D Medical Affairs: CKM

Breakthrough T1D has prioritized the development of continuous ketone monitors, which we believe can be lifesaving. Our Medical Affairs team is working to build consensus around these and how they can be useful in the clinic and in the lives of people with T1D.

T1D Index 3.0 is here

The T1D Index—a computational tool launched in 2022 that measures the human, public health, and economic impact of T1D around the world—was developed by Breakthrough T1D in collaboration with Life for a Child, the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF), and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD). Renza Scibilia, part of the Global Responsibility team at Breakthrough T1D, presented about exciting new upgrades for the T1D Index version 3.0. Some important updates:

• The newest version of the T1D Index has been updated with new published and unpublished data to ensure it remains the most comprehensive picture of T1D in the world.
• The new-and-improved dashboard allows for easier usability for researchers, healthcare professionals, and T1D community members to explore the data and computationally model the effects of care and diagnosis.
• The next version of the T1D Index in the works will further break down T1D statistics, focusing on regions and states within countries.
• The T1D Index is critically important for global advocacy and collaboration efforts by providing evidentiary data that support initiatives to change the trajectory of T1D.

The path to fully closed-loop automated insulin delivery systems

Hybrid closed-loop automated insulin delivery (AID) systems—a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) paired with an insulin pump, requiring mealtime and physical activity announcements—are estimated to be used by hundreds of thousands of people today. While these devices have been transformative for the T1D community, user input is still a daily burden, and fully closed-loop systems aren’t widely available for T1D yet. In this session, Moshe Phillip, M.D., Katrien Benhalima, M.D., Ph.D., and Charlotte Boughton, M.D., Ph.D., explored the benefits of currently available AID systems and fully closed-loop AID systems on the horizon.

• Based on clinical trial data and real-world evidence, hybrid closed-loop systems improve time-in-range (TIR) and reduce HbA1c levels without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia. This translates to better outcomes and quality of life for people with T1D.
• Different AID systems will work better for different people, depending on preferences for blood glucose management. Because there have been limited head-to-head trials comparing two or more AID systems, there is no evidence that any one system is definitively better than another.
• Right now, only one AID system is licensed for use in pregnancy (CamAPS FX). More research is needed to determine safety and efficacy of additional AID systems for use during pregnancy, and real-world evidence of women who become pregnant while using different AID systems may provide some clues.
• A clinical trial for the CamAPS HX fully closed-loop AID system in the U.K. increased TIR by 50% compared to 36% in people using standard pump therapy with a CGM—amounting to three additional hours each day of blood glucose in target range. Participants reported improved mood and sleep, less stress, and reduced diabetes burden. Similar improvements in blood glucose and daily life were reported in adolescents.
• Next-generation AID systems under investigation include two or more hormones for optimal glycemic control, artificial intelligence, and “digital twin” simulation tools.

Updates on heart and eye complications

Reducing T1D complications remains a major research focus area around the globe. Robert Humphrey presented on the LENS trial, which found that fenofibrate—a generic and affordable cholesterol-lowering medication—can reduce the progression of diabetic retinopathy in people with T1D and type 2 diabetes. A follow-up study found that fenofibrate is a cost-effective option for diabetic retinopathy in the U.K., especially for T1D. In conjunction with these studies, the recruiting Breakthrough T1D-funded Protocol AF trial is further investigating fenofibrate in preventing progression of diabetic retinopathy in people with T1D.

Rebecka Bergdal presented on a study examining the relationship between cumulative exposure to glycemia or lipids and heart failure, one of the leading causes of cardiovascular mortality in T1D. The study found that both cumulative glycemic exposure (defined as time spent with HbA1c levels > 7%) and cumulative lipid exposure (LDL, triglycerides, and cholesterol) are independently associated with increased risk for heart failure. The publication highlighting these findings includes a call to action for healthcare providers to help people with T1D minimize high blood sugar and lipid exposure, and support and encourage the best diabetes management possible to reduce risk for heart complications.

“We saw significant progress in each area of our Mission at EASD,” said Sanjoy Dutta, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer. “The MELD-ATG results are a noteworthy step forward for disease-modifying therapies; the screening consensus is a much-needed stake in ground around general population screening; we are moving closer to urgently needed adjunctive therapies; and cell therapies continue to perform in clinical and pre-clinical studies. It’s an incredibly exciting time in T1D and we will continue to support this work—and more—to bring cures to our community.”

The next big T1D meeting is ISPAD 2025, which will take place November 5-8 in Montreal, Canada. Stay tuned for more news!

This article was written by Sandy Vogt and Brian Herrick.

Since 1994, Marshalls has been a committed supporter of Breakthrough T1D.

As Breakthrough T1D’s largest corporate partner, Marshalls raises more than $3 million each year through in-store fundraisers at checkout, donations from the TJX Foundation, and store support of local Breakthrough T1D chapters across the country. These combined efforts have resulted in more than $47 million in donations to-date for Breakthrough T1D, helping to advance our mission of accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its complications.

Marshalls’ 2025 in-store fundraising campaign for Breakthrough T1D runs from Sunday, August 31, through Saturday, September 27. Find your local Marshalls here.

Creating a better future

Digital creator Kris Leeper’s type 1 diabetes journey began with his diagnosis in 2013. It was, in his own words, “terrifying.”

“My wife and I were bombarded with conflicting information,” Kris said. “We were navigating unchartered territory as a family, just two years into our marriage. I felt lost and uncertain about the future.”

T1D technology changed the game for Kris. “The introduction of a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and pump revolutionized my outlook on living with T1D. I immediately felt better,” he said. “Access to and understanding of diabetes technology has profoundly improved my daily life.”

Kris appreciates Marshalls for bringing awareness to Breakthrough T1D’s efforts to make life-changing technologies a reality for the more than 1.5 million Americans facing T1D.

“Companies like Marshalls play a pivotal role in bringing Breakthrough T1D’s mission to the mainstream,” he said. “Marshalls’ support for advocacy, research, and fundraising demonstrates the power of a major brand in creating a better future for people living with or caring for those with T1D.”

Driving breakthroughs forward

1 in every 31 families in the U.S. are impacted by type 1 diabetes—it places a tremendous financial, emotional, and mental burden on those who live with it and their loved ones. With support from partners like Marshalls, Breakthrough T1D is making everyday life with T1D safer and easier through technology—like the CGM Kris uses, and automated insulin delivery systems.

Every donation collected through the Marshalls partnership has also helped drive critical research in cures for type 1 diabetes. From the launch of the Special Diabetes Program in 1997, to the first manufactured islets making insulin in 2014, and the FDA approval of Tzield, the first disease-modifying therapy for type 1 diabetes, Breakthrough T1D is driving innovation forward to make the condition a thing of the past.

“The future of type 1 diabetes is bright,” Kris said. “We are on the cusp of living longer, experiencing fewer complications, and enjoying a life without limits.”

Breakthrough T1D thanks Marshalls for its incredible partnership in improving and changing life with type 1 diabetes.

Hy-Vee’s dedication to Breakthrough T1D’s mission is personal.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) first struck the Hy-Vee family in 1921, when company co-founder Charles Hyde’s oldest son, Paul, died from the disease when he was 8 years old.

Since 1998, Hy-Vee has been a trusted partner of Breakthrough T1D, raising nearly $20 million through a variety of corporate and store events, including Walks in the Midwestern and Southern U.S. Hy-Vee also participates in Rides across the country; in 2025, they were recognized as a top fundraising team, bringing in over $230,000 for T1D research.

Hy-Vee’s 2025 in-store fundraising campaign for Breakthrough T1D runs from September 1 through 30. Find your local Hy-Vee here.

Working together for cures

Sam and Lauren Raiche are loyal Hy-Vee customers. They’re also dedicated fundraisers, advocates, and volunteers for Breakthrough T1D. Their 8-year-old son, Alexander, was diagnosed with T1D at age 3.

They appreciate Hy-Vee’s commitment to Breakthrough T1D’s mission. “It means so much to know that a company we already trust and shop with is also supporting a mission so close to our hearts,” Lauren said. “Living with type 1 diabetes is a daily challenge for our family, and seeing Hy-Vee stand behind research and programs that directly impact families like ours makes us feel grateful and supported every time we walk through their doors.”

Alexander represented Kansas at the 2025 Breakthrough T1D Children’s Congress. As a Delegate, he met with representatives to advocate for renewal of the Special Diabetes Program, which funds critical type 1 diabetes research. “Advocacy has become a cornerstone of our journey,” Lauren said. “We firmly believe that raising awareness and engaging with the community are essential steps toward making meaningful progress and, ultimately, achieving cures.”

Accelerating cell therapy breakthroughs

Support from partners like Hy-Vee helps fuel that progress toward cures for type 1 diabetes. Breakthrough T1D’s cures portfolio includes cell therapies, which replace destroyed beta cells with protected functional cells to restore insulin therapy independence and glucose control, ideally without immunosuppression.

Over the past decade, Breakthrough T1D has funded more than $156 million in cell therapies research, including partnerships with organizations like Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Sana Biotechnology.

In 2024, Vertex launched a pivotal clinical trial for zimislecel (formerly VX-880), which uses manufactured islets to restore the body’s ability to produce insulin. The therapy, however, requires the use of immunosuppression to protect the transplanted cells from rejection. The islets used in zimislecel are derived from the Breakthrough T1D-funded work of Doug Melton, Ph.D., who first turned precursor cells into insulin-producing cells in 2014.

A 2025 study from Sana Biotechnology showed that hypoimmune (HIP) donor-derived islets are making insulin and avoiding immune detection in the first person treated. The T1D Fund: A Breakthrough T1D Venture invested in Sana to help advance their HIP technology platform.

Breakthrough T1D continues to drive innovation to develop cell replacement therapies and eliminate the need for immunosuppression. With the generosity and support of partners like Hy-Vee and families like the Raiches, we will change the lives of everyone facing type 1 diabetes.

Breakthrough T1D is Wawa’s longest-standing partnership. Since 1994, the popular convenience store chain has raised millions of dollars for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research through in-store fundraising campaigns at more than 1,060 locations across the Eastern U.S.

Wawa’s partnership with Breakthrough T1D is further enhanced by donations from The Wawa Foundation, which is committed to helping Breakthrough T1D create a world without T1D and building strong communities by supporting causes related to health, hunger, and everyday heroes. 

Wawa’s 2025 fundraising campaign for Breakthrough T1D runs from July 31 to August 20. Customers can donate $1, $3, or $5 or round up at checkout to support life-changing breakthroughs for people living with T1D.

Wawa lives out the values it speaks to

Wawa super fan, Nate Keeney, has lived with T1D for 27 years. He is proud to support a company that lives out the values it speaks to.

“Long before working at Breakthrough T1D, I loved Wawa for their larger selection of food options and snacks,” Nate said. “I always knew they partnered with the organization, but seeing how their efforts impact everyone living with T1D has given me a renewed passion to continue supporting Wawa.”

Wawa walks to cure T1D

Breakthrough T1D Walk is another way Wawa helps support the T1D community and fund critical T1D research. The Wawa Foundation matches employee Walk fundraising efforts up to $100.

Wawa associates also volunteer at Walk events to distribute in-kind food and beverages to participants.

“I see Wawa everywhere at our local Breakthrough T1D Walk in Philadelphia, with their classic soft pretzels and iced teas (and diet iced teas!) to fuel us as we walk to support T1D research and community,” Nate said. “The Goose also leads the T1D parade before the Walk begins.”

Wawa helps fuel life-changing research

Wawa helps Breakthrough T1D advance its mission to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications.

That includes technology like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems, which have been life-changing for Nate.

“My insulin pump and CGM have been a wonderful addition to my diabetes routine—they’ve helped me get my A1c into a great range and identify trends,” he said. “Also, the ability to manage my T1D from my phone has made life on the go easier, whether it’s traveling for work or traveling for fun to different states or countries.”

Wawa’s support also fuels research in cures for type 1 diabetes. Cell therapies that insert healthy insulin-producing cells into people with T1D with minimal or no immunosuppression is a breakthrough Nate is hopeful for.

“So much effort, intensity, and care are going into funding research, particularly with cell therapies,” he said. “It makes me hopeful for cures within my lifetime.”

Together, Wawa and Breakthrough T1D are championing life-changing research and strengthening the T1D community.

The short version

Breakthrough T1D’s newest publication outlines what the future of beta cell replacement therapies looks like—and how we can make these therapies a reality for everyone with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who wants them through innovative clinical trial design and expanding the pool of eligible trial participants.

Breakthrough T1D, in collaboration with other leading experts in the field, recently published an article titled “Future Directions and Clinical Trial Considerations for Novel Islet β-Cell Replacement Therapies for Type 1 Diabetes” in the journal Diabetes. Breakthrough T1D Research and Advocacy staff who contributed to the publication include Sanjoy Dutta, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Esther Latres, Ph.D., Vice President of Research, and Marjana Marinac, Pharm.D., Associate Vice President of Regulatory Affairs.

Beta cell replacement therapies have the potential to cure type 1 diabetes (T1D) by removing the need for external insulin. While donor islet transplantation can result in insulin independence and results from early trials with manufactured islets are encouraging, people with T1D need better tools and therapies. This publication serves as a roadmap for the entire field—including researchers, product developers, industry, regulators, clinicians, and people with T1D—to address these needs and ensure that beta cell replacement therapies can get to people with T1D as quickly and safely as possible.

Read on to learn more about what the future of beta cell replacement therapies looks like.

Where we are now

People living with T1D depend on external insulin to manage their condition throughout their lives. Despite advancements in diabetes technology, such as continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems, most people with T1D are unable to achieve blood sugar targets, rendering them at a higher risk for complications, reduced quality of life, and lower life expectancy.

 It’s simple: we need to do more for the T1D community.

One promising avenue to meet these needs is through cell replacement therapy. Lantidra®, the first FDA-approved donor-derived islet replacement therapy for T1D, has proven to be safe and effective in eliminating severe hypoglycemia, providing insulin independence, and improving quality of life. However, this therapy is limited to people with severe hypoglycemia and requires immunosuppression to prevent rejection of the transplanted cells, which can have side effects. Even more, these donor-derived islets are in limited supply.

Alternative beta cell replacement therapies are emerging—and we can no longer limit their development to people experiencing severe hypoglycemia.

Developing cell therapy strategies to meet unmet needs of the T1D population

Breakthrough T1D’s vision for the T1D community includes beta cell replacement therapies with no immunosuppression that are available to everyone who wants them. We are committed to making this a reality through our Project ACT (Accelerate Cell Therapies) initiative, which will accelerate the development of these therapies to achieve our vision as quickly as possible.

We are entering an exciting era of beta cell replacement. Emerging therapies are addressing challenges such as cell source and scalability, resulting in the development of islets derived from sources other than donors, including manufactured islets and porcine islets. Up-and-coming therapies are also testing different transplantation sites, methods of delivery, and cell protection strategies to prevent immune rejection with the fewest side effects possible (and ideally no immunosuppression). Learn more about what scientists are doing to optimize beta cell replacement therapies.

Breakthrough T1D’s continuous support of many of these therapies, such as Vertex’s manufactured islet therapy zimislecel, has been critical to accelerating them through the clinical pipeline. Explore emerging beta cell replacement therapies in clinical trials now—and see how Breakthrough T1D’s commitment to these therapies helped make this possible.

When successful, the advent of new, safe, scalable, and effective beta cell replacement therapies will provide the T1D community with options. As these therapies are moving their way through the pipeline, we need to ensure they are being studied in a broader T1D population who stand to benefit.

So, how do we make this happen?

The roadmap for emerging beta cell replacement therapies

Expanding the T1D population eligible for beta cell transplantation

Current trials testing beta cell therapies necessitating immunosuppression require participants to have elevated HbA1c levels and recurrent severe hypoglycemic events. This limits the pool of participants to people who meet the requirements and are most likely to benefit, given the side effects associated with chronic, broad immunosuppressants.

Clinical trials for emerging beta cell replacement therapies should broaden eligibility criteria so more people with T1D can participate—and experience the potential benefits. When designing new clinical trials, sponsors and regulators should consider including a broader range of HbA1c levels, clinically important or serious hypoglycemic events, and other complications.

Studies have found that the T1D community is generally open to beta cell replacement therapies as a potential solution to T1D, and people are willing to accept the associated risk versus benefit considerations for the possibility of becoming insulin independent. A Breakthrough T1D assessment also found that physicians are interested in recommending beta cell replacement therapies to people with T1D—especially if they don’t require immunosuppression.

“Clinical trials to support the development of islet cell replacement therapies need to evolve to include a broader representation of people living with T1D who could benefit from these novel therapies. This includes expanding the outcomes used to assess the benefits of cell replacement that reflect how people with T1D feel and function.”

Marjana Marinac, Pharm.D., Associate Vice President of Regulatory Affairs

Placing people with T1D at the center of clinical trial design

The outcomes used to assess the effectiveness of cell therapies currently in clinical trials, including those involving deceased donor islets, are acceptable for emerging beta cell replacement therapies. These include on-target HbA1c levels, absence of severe hypoglycemia, significant reduction or elimination of external insulin, and restoration of the body’s insulin production as measured by C-peptide.

Other endpoints that should be considered include CGM metric targets like time-in-range in addition to person-reported outcomes. Understanding how a beta cell therapy may affect a person’s health-related quality of life—such as diabetes distress, fear of hypoglycemia, or social and family dynamics—will be critically important for calculating the risk to benefit ratio of these therapies.

Read more about why person-reported outcomes are important for cell therapies.

“There are still significant unmet needs in the T1D community. Breakthrough T1D’s roadmap is supported by the assessment of clinically meaningful outcomes and driving research toward solutions that address key factors such as cell sources and protections strategies that will broaden the people with T1D who could benefit from emerging cell replacement therapies.”

Esther Latres, Ph.D., Vice President of Research

Innovative trial designs to accelerate development of cell therapies

Clinical trials for beta cell replacement therapies are generally based on a single-arm, open-label design—meaning there is no placebo group and both participants and researchers know which therapy is being administered. While this design can work for emerging beta cell therapies, single trials with multiple arms testing alternative transplant sites, immune protection strategies, or other methods have the potential to speed up the pace of development.

Similarly, adaptive trial designs use mid-trial interim analyses of study data to inform the remainder of the trial. This helps researchers learn what’s working (or not working) and adjust the design accordingly, with guidance from regulatory agencies, so the rest of the trial is a focused and efficient use of time and resources. Potential interim changes to trial design include reducing the number of participants required, eliminating doses, recruiting people who are most likely to benefit, or stopping the trial outright due to clear success or failure.

By applying guidance in therapeutic development and innovative trial designs to emerging beta cell replacement therapies, we can move early-stage trials along faster, thereby allowing regulators to make decisions sooner. To support quicker trials and reduce the possibility for delays, researchers, developers, and regulators around the world need to work together to achieve convergence on trial populations, endpoints, and innovative designs that will meet regional requirements.

Learning from past successes

People with T1D continue to live with unmet needs with still significant risk for long-term complications, and they need more therapeutic options. Right now, most clinical trials for beta cell replacement therapies requiring immunosuppression are limited to a small portion of the T1D population. This needs to change—especially given the potential for insulin independence. The T1D community must be put first when making decisions about beta cell replacement therapies, and Breakthrough T1D is making sure that this happens.

Adjusting how we approach clinical trials for emerging beta cell replacement therapies will be critical for ensuring we accelerate the research, development, regulatory approval, access and adoption of these novel therapies. Breakthrough T1D successfully accomplished this for AID systems—and we are confident that following a similar roadmap for cell therapies will get us to the finish line, faster.

Curative therapies for T1D are in reach. This roadmap, in conjunction with our Project ACT initiative, is key to bringing beta cell replacement therapies to every person with T1D who wants them.

To make this a reality, everyone needs to work together. As stated in the publication, “This requires a comprehensive strategy and a coordinated collaboration across stakeholders in every field relevant to islet cell replacement.” This roadmap is a guide for moving toward our common goal of a cure for T1D as soon as possible.

Breakthrough T1D will continue to lead the way until the T1D community can choose the beta cell replacement therapy that works best for them, regardless of blood glucose management or hypoglycemia status. Everyone deserves the chance to benefit.

Breakthrough T1D, in partnership with Friends of Mewar and UNICEF, participated in the Udaipur Type 1 Diabetes Summit: Advancing Access, Equity, and Action, in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. The event gathered government leaders, health experts, community advocates, and international partners to develop a collaborative roadmap for strengthening type 1 diabetes (T1D) care across India.

Breaking down barriers and stigma

Hosted by Friends of Mewar’s Founder and Breakthrough T1D Global Ambassador Princess Padmaja Kumari Parmar, who has lived with T1D for more than 40 years, the two-day summit was a critical milestone in building partnerships that drive sustainable, system-wide improvements in T1D care and equity.

“Timely healthcare access and accurate information are vital for managing type 1 diabetes and other non-communicable diseases,” said Princess Padmaja. “Collaboration is key to breaking down barriers and stigma, and ensuring that children and youth receive the support they deserve.”

Topics discussed included integrating T1D into national health frameworks, scaling digital and rural care solutions, promoting equity and stigma reduction, and aligning regional action across Southeast Asia. The summit also featured updates on the T1D Basic Care Pilot Program, a partnership between Breakthrough T1D and the William J. Clinton Foundation, showcasing early successes in improving insulin and glucose monitoring availability in public health settings.

The Udaipur Type 1 Diabetes Summit concluded Princess Padmaja’s strong call for sustained innovation, investment, and partnership to address the urgent need for support for youth living with T1D in India and around the world.

Advancing cures while improving lives

The summit aligned with Breakthrough T1D’s mission of advancing cures while improving lives. Affordable insulin, access to T1D technology, early diagnosis to prevent complications at diagnosis, and psychosocial support are all critical to improved health outcomes on the path to cures.

“In India and many other countries, children and young people face significant barriers to care,” said Lynn Starr, Chief Global Advocacy Officer at Breakthrough T1D. “Our commitment is that when cures arrive, they are accessible to everyone, everywhere, regardless of geography or income.”

Driving change for the T1D community

Born in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, Princess Padmaja was diagnosed with T1D at age 5. At the time of her diagnosis, tools and insulin options for managing T1D were limited—checking blood glucose levels or dosing insulin based on carbohydrate quantities wasn’t even possible.  

“Witnessing the progression of T1D breakthroughs over the years has been nothing short of remarkable,” said Princess Padmaja. “When I first started insulin injections, it was a cumbersome routine, requiring multiple injections a day. Today, thanks to advancements in insulin pump technology, managing T1D has become more streamlined and efficient, improving my quality of life.” 

As a Breakthrough T1D Global Ambassador, Princess Padmaja is working to combat the stigma of T1D and address the challenges surrounding the condition. She hopes to inspire changes within the government’s policies that could support people with T1D and within India’s healthcare system. 

“As a Global Ambassador, my aspirations do extend beyond borders,” she said. “The challenges surrounding T1D are not exclusive to India; they are present globally.” 

“By rallying support and implementing these measures, I can help tackle these challenges, ultimately improving the quality of life for those with T1D.” 

Breakthrough T1D was on site in Chicago, IL from June 20-23 for the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions. We’ve reported on the latest-and-greatest type 1 diabetes (T1D) advancements—including many driven by Breakthrough T1D funding. See below for all our ADA 2025 coverage spanning cures, improving the lives of people with T1D, and clinical adoption of T1D therapies, treatments, and devices.

ADA recap with Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D.

Looking for more ADA news? Tune in below to hear Breakthrough T1D Chief Executive Officer Dr. Aaron Kowalski cover the top advancements presented at ADA 2025.

Thanks for joining us throughout our coverage of the ADA 85th Scientific Sessions. We’ve made incredible progress across all our research priorities areas, including cures therapies, treatments, and devices. Breakthrough T1D staff and leadership were on-site hosting and participating in panel discussions, meeting with industry leaders, and engaging with researchers from around the world to accelerate T1D research progress. Breakthrough T1D-funded research was front-and-center, showcasing the reach of our impact driven by supporters like you. That’s a wrap on ADA 2025—we’re already looking forward to ADA 2026!

ADA Recap Series

This article is the last of our three-part ADA Recap Series. Breakthrough T1D was on site in Chicago, IL from June 20-23 for the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions. We’re here to report on the latest-and-greatest type 1 diabetes (T1D) advancements—including many driven by Breakthrough T1D funding.

Guidelines for T1D management

Guidelines for cardiovascular and kidney disease in T1D

• Presenter: Camila Manrique-Acevedo, M.D.; University of Missouri
• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk has decreased in people with T1D over time, but it is still the leading cause of death in people with T1D, representing a critical unmet need.
• Treatment recommendations and guidelines have largely relied on evidence from studies in T2D.
• Dr. Manrique-Acevedo recommends lipid-lowering medication (like statins such as Lipitor®) to reduce LDL to target levels. Based on an observational study, this class of drugs can reduce CVD risk by 22% in people with T1D.
• She also recommends lifestyle modifications, blood pressure management, weight management, and early and proactive screening for CKD.
• Development of clinical guidelines is a priority of Medical Affairs. The guidelines presented here are not published and do not necessarily represent the consensus of experts in the field. However, Dr. Manrique-Acevedo started the conversation to standardize CVD clinical care for people with T1D, which currently remains an unmet need.

Continuous ketone monitoring (CKM): Why does it matter?

CKM technology can have transformative benefits for intervening early when ketones are rising to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), among other uses. Breakthrough T1D has been supporting the development of CKM technology, but it’s not quite a reality yet. However, we’re working hard to bring CKM to the T1D community, and we believe we’ll be there soon.

Education and awareness

Precision medicine

Precision medicine refers to therapies and treatments that are targeted to a specific population of people based on genetics or other factors. This subpopulation is likely to respond more favorably to the precision medicine intervention compared to the general population.

From T2D to T1D: Shortening the clinical trial timeline for repurposed drugs

Biomarker

A biomarker is a measurable change that is indicative of disease or response to a therapeutic intervention.

Bridging biomarker

A bridging biomarker can be used to extrapolate the effectiveness of a treatment from one indication or population to another. In this case, a bridging biomarker that was effective in measuring therapeutic benefit in type 2 diabetes (T2D) can be used to measure the same benefit in T1D.

Finerenone for T1D

• Presenter: Hiddo Heerspink, Ph.D.; University Medical Center Groningen
• Finerenone has proven effective in preventing progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in T2D.
• The phase 3 FINE-ONE clinical trial, which is testing whether finerenone can prevent progression of CKD in people with T1D, is nearly complete. The treatment period is only six months.
• The primary endpoint is change in urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), an indicator of kidney damage. UACR is being used as a bridging biomarker for this trial based on demonstrated effectiveness of predicting finerenone-driven kidney benefits in T2D.
• This has reduced the treatment time—and therefore clinical trial length—by a significant amount. Shorter clinical trials mean people may be more inclined to participate, and HCPs need to effectively communicate this to interested volunteers.
• This is also an important lesson in clinical trial design and the benefits of repurposing drugs for T1D that have already shown benefits in T2D.  

The ADA 85th Scientific Sessions have officially come to a close—and we were inspired and energized by the incredible advancements we saw first-hand across cures therapies, treatments, devices, and Medical Affairs initiatives. Thanks to all the researchers, scientists, clinicians—including many who were funded by Breakthrough T1D—who joined the discussion and shared the exciting T1D research progress from labs and clinics around the world. See you next year!

ADA Recap Series

This article is the second of our three-part ADA Recap Series. Breakthrough T1D was on site in Chicago, IL from June 20-23 for the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions. We’re here to report on the latest-and-greatest type 1 diabetes (T1D) advancements—including many driven by Breakthrough T1D funding. Look out for tomorrow’s article for updates on Medical Affairs.

Cell therapies were front-and-center at ADA 2025. We have some exciting clinical trial updates and new ideas for optimizing islet transplantation.

Cell therapies

Autologous cell transplantation

Autologous cells are those removed from an individual and implanted back into the same individual. These cells can be modified in a laboratory before implantation. Autologous cells are still susceptible to autoimmunity in T1D, so cell protection strategies (gene-editing, encapsulation, immune modulation, etc.) are expected to be required.

Allogenic cell transplantation

Allogenic cells are those that are derived from a source other than the recipient, such as deceased donors or precursor-derived manufactured cells. Allogenic cell transplants require immunosuppression because they stimulate an immune response. Breakthrough T1D’s Cell Therapies program is focused on allogenic cells—specifically manufactured cells—because they can be generated at large scale.

One-year updates on Vertex’s manufactured cell therapy, zimislecel

• Presenter: Michael Rickels, M.D. (University of Pennsylvania)
• Zimislecel (VX-880) is a manufactured islet therapy that requires immunosuppression, infused into a vein in the liver in people with T1D who have impaired hypoglycemic awareness and severe hypoglycemic events.
• The phase 1/2 clinical trial, which is part of the pivotal phase 1/2/3 FORWARD-101 trial, is complete. Twelve participants received a single infusion of a full dose of cells and were followed for at least one year.
• All 12 participants achieved the primary endpoint, which was elimination of severe hypoglycemic events and HbA1c levels less than 7%. 10/12 (83%) participants are insulin independent.
• All 12 participants demonstrated sustained insulin production as measured by C-peptide, reduced external insulin therapy use, and achieved greater than 70% time in range.
• There were no serious adverse events. Mild to moderate adverse events were consistent with the immunosuppression regimen, infusion procedure, and complications from T1D.
• These data were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and represent further evidence of the curative potential of manufactured islet transplantation for T1D.
• Breakthrough T1D’s support for Doug Melton, Ph.D.—whose proprietary lab-created beta cells are now being advanced by Vertex—goes back decades, both via research grants and an investment from the T1D Fund: A Breakthrough T1D Venture.

6-month update on Sana Biotechnology’s immune-evasive islets

• Presenter: Per-Ola Carlsson, M.D., Ph.D. (Uppsala University)
• Sana’s donor-derived islet therapy engineered with Hypoimmune (HIP) technology can evade the immune system without immunosuppression.
• These cells were implanted intramuscularly in a first-in-human study into a person with T1D with no measurable insulin production.
• Six months post-transplant, this person is consistently making their own insulin, as measured by C-peptide levels. Yet, they still require external insulin therapy because they received a smaller dose of cells than the dose that would be required to achieve insulin independence. They did not experience any serious side effects, so the cells and procedure are safe and well-tolerated.
• A Mixed Meal Tolerance Test (MMTT) confirmed that these cells are not only surviving but also responding to changes in blood glucose levels.
• This is a promising first step toward a functional cure for T1D that does not require immunosuppression. Sana Biotechnology is planning on applying this technology to manufactured islets.
• Sana has received support from the T1D Fund to advance their HIP technology in islets, and Breakthrough T1D continues to work closely with them.

A new transplantation site for autologous manufactured islets

• Presenter: Hongkui Deng, M.D. (Peking University)
• Cells derived from adipose tissue (fat) can be removed from a person and chemically induced in the laboratory to become islet cells.
• Implantation of autologous manufactured islets into the sub-anterior rectus sheath in preclinical models of T1D improves glycemic control.
• In humans, this implantation site is easily accessible by an ultrasound-guided needle.
• In a first-in-human study, autologous manufactured islets were implanted into this site in a person with T1D. This person no longer needs external insulin therapy and has greatly improved blood glucose control. This person had also received a liver transplant and was taking immunosuppressants.

A new encapsulation device for immune protection of transplanted islets

• Presenter: Nicolas Laurent, Ph.D. (Adocia)
• Adoshell® is a novel islet cell encapsulation device that can shield islets from the immune system, meaning that immunosuppressants are not needed.
• The hydrogel-based device is non-degradable, easily retrievable, and allows the exchange of glucose and insulin from the vasculature surrounding the device while excluding immune cells from encapsulated islets based on pore size.
• This device showed promise in animal models, and human clinical testing is next.

Disease-modifying therapies

A major focus at ADA 2025 was addressing the underlying immune mechanisms of T1D—including alterations in immune cells that facilitate beta cell destruction and other factors that contribute to autoimmunity onset. Read on for some highlights.

The role of B cells in T1D autoimmunity

• Presenter: Mia Smith, Ph.D., DVM (University of Colorado)
• B cells are a type of immune cell that can activate destructive immune cells that facilitate autoimmunity in T1D.
• B cells can become wrongly activated against insulin-producing beta cells due to converging dysregulation of factors that regulate immunity.
• These cells represent another potential target for disease-modifying therapies in T1D.

Early detection

A key focus at ADA 2025 was the growing recognition of the heterogeneity of T1D, including autoantibody-negative disease onset, genetic variation, and the frequent misdiagnosis of T1D in adults, underscoring the need for greater diversity and inclusion in research and care. The expanded role of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and continuous ketone monitoring (CKM) was also highlighted, not only for daily management but as essential tools for understanding disease progression.

Using genetics to predict T1D risk

• Presenters: Richard Oram, M.D., Ph.D. (University of Exeter), Leslie Lange, Ph.D. (University of Colorado), Aaron Deutsch, M.D. (Massachusetts General Hospital), Josep Mercader, Ph.D.(Massachusetts General Hospital) and Eimear Kenny, Ph.D. (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)
• Polygenic risk scores (PRS) estimate the risk a person has for developing a disease like T1D based on variations in different genes.
• Ancestry is a major influence on PRS, particularly based on differences in genes that regulate whether the immune system can distinguish between “self” and “non-self.”
• Most PRS models have been developed using data from European populations and have a limited ability to accurately determine risk in other ethnic groups, such as individuals of African and East Asian descent.  
• Potential applications of PRS include incorporation into screening to better understand T1D risk, ensure accuracy in diagnostic tests, and develop precision medicine-based therapeutic approaches.

Understanding how genetic diversity contributes to T1D

• Presenters: Suna Onengut-Gumuscu, Ph.D. (University of Virginia), Dominika A. Michalek, MS (University of Virginia), Aaron Deutsch, M.D. (Massachusetts General Hospital), and Stephen I Stone, M.D. (Washington University School of Medicine), among others.
• These talks highlighted several studies conducted in diverse populations to better understand the pathophysiology of T1D.
• Work presented from Consortia, such as RADIANT, focused on rare and atypical forms of diabetes.

Controversies in CGM and benefits for early detection

• Presenters: Peter Calhoun, Ph.D. (Jaeb Center for Health Research), Michael Kohn, M.D., MPP (University of California San Francisco), Nicole Ehrhardt, M.D. (University of Washington) and Tadej Battelino, M.D., Ph.D. (University of Ljubljana)
• CGM use holds value in identifying progression in early stages of T1D prior to symptomatic onset.
• There was a call to update the clinical guidelines so that the benefits of CGM can be maximized within the T1D community—including at early and later stages of T1D.
• Integrating newer measures of blood glucose, like the glucose management indicator (GMI) and time in tight range (TITR), will be essential.

Contributions of CKM to early detection

• Presenters: Ketan Dhatariya, MBBS, M.D., Ph.D. (Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals), Lori Laffel, M.D., MPH (Harvard University), Jennifer Sherr, M.D., Ph.D. (Yale University), and Richard Bergenstal, M.D. (HealthPartners Institute).
• It will be critical to explore whether ketone monitoring could help reduce the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at stage 3 clinical T1D onset.
• Early detection of rising ketones will be important for people with T1D to take action before DKA occurs.

Look out for tomorrow’s article for an update on Medical Affairs presented at ADA 2025!