Breakthrough T1D Greater Los Angeles July Newsletter

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A monthly guide to what’s happening in your Breakthrough T1D Community

Help us Power Breakthroughs in T1D Research

We are on a mission to power new breakthroughs in type 1 diabetes (T1D) research! Whether it’s spending a day walking with your community at a Breakthrough T1D Walk, attending an unforgettable evening at our annual Gala, or pedaling through the miles at a high-energy, awe-inspiring Ride, your commitment drives research, advocacy, and support to improve lives as we advance toward cures.

Registration is open for Breakthrough T1D Walk, Santa Barbara. Join us for an inspiring day of community and raising funds for breakthroughs in T1D research!

When: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Where: Leadbetter Beach Park
801 Shoreline Dr Santa Barbara, CA 93109

For any questions, contact Judy Parra.

Save the Date for Breakthrough T1D Walk, Los Angeles

When: Saturday, March 20, 2027
Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena
To join the Walk Committee, please contact Sue Pietrzak.

Encourage your friends and family to join your team for this fun, impactful event. Together, we are a force for change. Thank you for your ongoing dedication and support. We can’t wait to walk with you!

Breakthrough T1D Ride, 2026 will take place at 5 exciting locations throughout the country, or you can ride from anywhere with MyRide. Many Ride Packages are still available, so no matter if you plan to ride 1 mile or 100, claim your spot today!

Where will you ride? Register today!

For questions or more information about Breakthrough T1D Endurance opportunities, contact Judy Parra.

Get Your Tickets - Breakthrough T1D Los Angeles Gala: Cures on the Horizaon

Join Us for the Los Angeles Gala

The Breakthrough T1D Los Angeles Gala: Cures on the Horizon will take place on October 10, 2026 in the stunning Herscher Hall at the Skirball Cultural Center. Join Co-Chairs Laura Mecoy and Cary Walker welcome you to the breathtaking Herscher Hall at the Skirball Cultural Center for a night to remember.

Frank Buckley as our host. We will be honoring *NSYNC star and T1D advocate Lance Bass with our Breakthrough T1D Spotlight Award. Join us for an unforgettable evening that will feature an exciting silent and live auction and our impactful Fund A Cure program.

It’s a night to honor the strength of the T1D community and drive forward the mission to fund life-changing research. Let’s come together, create lasting memories, and move progress forward.

To purchase tickets, sponsorships, tables or donate to Fund A Cure, please visit our website here.

For more information contact Tarah Kennedy.

Become a Youth Ambassador

Applications are Open for the 2026/27 School Year

The Breakthrough T1D Youth Ambassador Program is open to children and teens in Kindergarten through 12th grade who are living with T1D. The program provides opportunities to grow in advocacy, leadership, community involvement, and sharing their T1D story. Youth Ambassadors also build meaningful connections through shared experiences that foster friendship, support, and fun.

View this year’s application here for more information and to apply. The deadline to apply is July 31, 2026. We look forward to welcoming another incredible group of Youth Ambassadors this fall!

For more information, contact Marcela Pallete.

Mission Update

Breakthrough T1D was in New Orleans, LA from June 5-8 for the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 86th Scientific Sessions. Throughout the week, 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 mission progress.

 

A few highlights included:

  • Sanjoy Dutta. Ph.D.,Chief Scientific Officer, participated in a panel discussion about advancing manufactured islet cell therapies for widespread use. Top priorities for cell therapies include expanding clinical trials, manufacturing islets to make them affordable and accessible for all, and finding ways to reduce or eliminate the need for immunosuppressants.
  • Kenneth Brayman, M.D., Ph.D., FACS(University of Virginia) presented two Breakthrough T1D-funded projects exploring potential disease-modifying therapies. One aims to retrain the immune system to protect insulin-producing beta cells, while the other could suppress autoimmunity and promote beta cell regeneration.
  • Piotr Witkowski, M.D. (University of Chicago) gave an update on the Breakthrough T1D-funded clinical trial for Eledon’s tegoprubart, an immune therapy being tested with donor-derived islet cell transplants. All 12 participants are off external insulin. They are not experiencing severe hypoglycemic events or unexpected adverse events; there are no signs of the body rejecting the transplanted cells, and there are no signs of kidney toxicity.

These are just three examples of many research breakthroughs across all our mission priority areas that were shared during this four-day conference. Throughout the week, Breakthrough T1D-funded research was front-and-center, showcasing the reach of our impact driven by supporters like you.

You can learn more about all the exciting developments and key takeaways from the ADA Scientific Sessions by visiting our website here.

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Written by: rspidell