Breakthrough T1D San Diego and Hawaiʻi July Newsletter

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

“Tee It Up” to Support T1D Research

We are on a mission to power new breakthroughs in T1D research! Whether it’s spending a day out with your community at Breakthrough T1D Walk, an unforgettable evening at our annual Gala, golfing your way through 18 holes, or pedaling through the miles at a high-energy Ride, your commitment drives research, advocacy, and support to improve lives as we advance toward cures.

We’re just three months away from the Tee It Up for T1D Golf Tournament, and excitement is building for what promises to be another incredible day of golf, community, and impact. Registration is filling quickly, sponsorship opportunities are gaining momentum, and our volunteer committee continues to work hard behind the scenes to make this 2nd annual event a big success!

There is still plenty of time to get involved, so mark your calendars and get ready for a fantastic day on the course while making a meaningful difference for those living with T1D.

For registration, sponsorship information, and event details, visit our event website here or contact Jen Haber.

Join Our Movement

Help Us Transform Life with T1D

We are kicking off Walk season with at the Breakthrough T1D Walk, San Diego HYPE Party! Join us to learn more and get excited for the Walk in November.

When: Saturday, September 12 at 11:30 a.m.
Where: Dave & Buster’s – San Diego

Register your team today for the main event! Join us for an inspiring day of community and raising funds for breakthroughs in T1D research:

When: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Where: NTC Park at Liberty Station

We are also in the process of building Walk Committees to assist with these events and we need you. Contact Samantha Ecks Kearney if you are interested in joining.

Ride Packages are still available!

It’s time for Breakthrough T1D Ride, where every pedal stroke powers research, advocacy, and support to improve lives until we find a cure! Breakthrough T1D Ride, 2026 will take place at 5 exciting locations throughout the country, or you can ride from anywhere with MyRide. Claim your spot at one of our upcoming Rides today! With coach-led, supportive training rides throughout the year, there’s no better time to find your Ride community.

Where will you ride? Register today!

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

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 Chelsee Schipper.

Mission Update

Breakthrough T1D was on site 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.

Learn more about all the exciting developments and key takeaways from the ADA Scientific Sessions.

Upcoming Events

Join us In-Person or Online

In Person Events

  • Handel’s Ice Cream Social – Thursday, July 9 at 4 p.m. at Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream in Temecula (41377 Margarita Road, Temecula, CA 92591). Stop by and 20% of total sales will support Breakthrough T1D.  Learn more here.
  • Jeni’s Ice Cream Social – Thursday, July 23 at 2 p.m. at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in North Park (2871 University Avenue, San Diego, CA 92104). Stop by from 2-5 p.m. and 25% of total sales will support Breakthrough T1D.  Learn more here.
  • South Bay Adult and Parent Coffee Chat – Wednesday, July 29, 6 p.m. at Starbucks inside the Chula Vista Shopping Center, (555 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910). Parents of kids with T1D and Adults with T1D are invited to join our volunteer hosts, Rosa and Andrea, and connect with our T1D Community. This is a recurring event on the last Wednesday of every month. RSVP Here.
  • Adult T1D Community Meet Up – Adults with T1D and Parents of T1D Kids – Saturday, August 1, 9 a.m at Pannikin Coffee & Tea (510 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024). dults with a T1D connection are invited to join our Breakthrough T1D Volunteer Host, Dani, and connect with our Adult T1D Community! This is for adults with T1D, parents of kids with T1D, adult partners of a partner with T1D! RSVP Here.

Virtual Events

Written by: rspidell