News and Updates

Islet cell therapies for type 1 diabetes (T1D) replace destroyed insulin-producing beta cells with functional cells that allow the body to make insulin again. To ensure there are enough islet cells for everyone with T1D who wants them, Breakthrough T1D is prioritizing manufactured cell therapies, which can be made in large quantities in a laboratory, […]

It’s an exciting time for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Nearly every day, we’re seeing incredible progress across each area of Breakthrough T1D’s research portfolio to cure, prevent, and treat T1D and its complications. One area in particular is making headlines: Cell therapies.  In T1D, the immune system destroys the beta cells in the pancreas, which produce insulin. Cell therapies aim to replace […]

Taking care of your mental health with type 1 diabetes is just as important as managing your blood sugar and taking your insulin.

It was identified in the late 1960s. Since then, studies have shown that it is a biomarker for beta cell function. In other words, it’s a measure of beta cell health and insulin production. If it’s low (or you have none), it indicates that your pancreas is producing little or no insulin. There was even […]

What’s happening? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tzield (teplizumab-mzwv) for use in children in stage 2 type 1 diabetes (T1D) ages one and older. This is a huge win for the T1D community! Breakthrough T1D applauds the FDA for this approval and Sanofi for their commitment to new therapies for the T1D […]

Karen Shishino Jordan, a long-time volunteer leader in the greater California Bay area, will serve as Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) International Board of Directors (IBOD) Chair, succeeding current Chair Lisa Fishbone Wallack. Carlton McMillan, also a dedicated volunteer leader in the greater California Bay area, will serve as Vice Chair, succeeding current Vice Chair Matt Varey.     Karen’s and Carlton’s terms as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, begin Wednesday, July 1, 2026.    Breakthrough […]

Breakthrough T1D is focused on developing drugs, or disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), that change the course of T1D for everyone affected by it—and those yet to be. That means slowing or halting the progression of the disease, preventing it from ever occurring, and reversing it entirely through immune therapies and beta cell therapies.  Note: To enlarge the image below, left click […]

Breakthrough T1D is back from Barcelona! The final two days of ATTD were jam-packed with more incredible updates across all areas of our mission. Breakthrough T1D staff chaired and participated in many sessions—including Breakthrough T1D Senior Vice President of Research, Esther Latres, Ph.D.; Vice President of Medical Affairs Anastasia Albanese O’Neill, Ph.D., APRN, CDCES; Senior […]

Greetings from Barcelona, Spain! From March 11–14, 2026, the world’s leading type 1 diabetes (T1D) researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry partners gathered to share groundbreaking advances in T1D science—and Breakthrough T1D–supported work (and staff) were front and center. Below is everything you need to know from the first two days of this remarkable conference, including […]

Our Statement on Deceased Donor Islet Cell Availability & The ISLET Act Curing type 1 diabetes (T1D) is Breakthrough T1D’s number one priority. As the leading global T1D research and advocacy organization, we are currently funding over $450 million in cures research in 23 countries. Everything we do is focused on making cures happen for the T1D […]