Inside the Impact Board: Why Breakthrough T1D Supports Collaboration & Innovation from Startups

"Our mission is accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and better treat Type 1 diabetes and its complications," says Aaron Kowalski, PhD, the CEO of Breakthrough T1D and a member of StartUp Health's T1D Moonshot Impact Board, at the recent ADA Scientific Sessions conference. "Our number one priority is curing Type 1 diabetes."

🚀 What's in a Name: Breakthrough T1D rebranded from JDRF to reflect a modern focus beyond just "juvenile" diabetes, which is no longer called that.
🧬 Innovative Research: The organization's top priority for 2024 is curing Type 1 diabetes, highlighted by the promising data from Vertex showing that stem cell-derived islets can restore insulin independence, a significant step forward.
🔬 Research and Development: The discussion includes the long-term efforts in islet transplantation, transitioning from donor-derived to stem cell-derived islets, and the ongoing challenges such as the need for immunosuppression.
🌍 Access and Advocacy: Emphasis on increasing access to current technologies like CGMs and insulin delivery systems, which are transformative but not yet widely adopted. The need for faster regulatory approval and patient penetration is stressed.
💡 Future Innovations: Highlighting the importance of supporting early-stage startups and innovative business models to bring new treatments and technologies to market, with examples of successful projects transitioning from small startups to clinical trials.
🌐 Community and Collaboration: Encouraging collaboration across various fields, including gene editing and material science, to push the boundaries of Type 1 diabetes treatment and care.
📊 Research Funding: Breakthrough T1D plans to fund over $110 million next year, with an additional $25-30 million in investments through the T1D Fund, showcasing a strong commitment to advancing research and innovation.
💉 Patient Impact: Despite the availability of CGMs and automated insulin delivery systems, only 10-15% of Americans with Type 1 diabetes are using these technologies, indicating a significant gap in access and adoption.


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