There are many ways to help support diabetes awareness, education, research, and outreach, with many organizations striving to improve the lives of people with diabetes, in the US and across the globe.
Learn about the mission and advocacy efforts of the Diabetes Research Institute and Foundation below.
Who They Are
The Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) and Foundation was founded in the early 1970s by a small group of parents whose children had diabetes. Today, it is a leader in diabetes research and fundraising and focuses on research efforts specifically aimed at developing a cure for the disease.
The organization cites the vision of “a world without diabetes” and a mission to “develop and rapidly apply the most promising research to treat and cure those now living with diabetes.”
The DRI has numerous global partners, including TrialNet and the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP).
What They Do
The DRI focuses on the following 3-fold approach in their quest to arrive at a biological cure for diabetes:
- Develop a “mini-pancreas” that will contain islet and other “helper” inside the patient’s body
- Engineer effective immunotherapies to counteract immune attack
- Create a robust supply of insulin-producing cells
Altogether, these three research areas constitute their “BioHub Strategy” fir a biological cure.
Image Source: Diabetes Research Institute and Foundation
The overall goal is to fully restore insulin production inside with body to normalize glycemia without harmful side effects. To support these research goals, numerous clinical trials in all these key research areas are currently ongoing.
In the 2018 report the DRI cited a total of over $14 million towards the support of these research efforts.
You can learn more about specific research projects and progress by visiting this page.
How to Give
There are many ways that you can choose to support the DRI and its mission. You can make a donation in the amount of your choice here or learn about other ways to give here.
Also, you can learn about upcoming fundraising events, special fundraising programs, and even create your own fundraiser.
Summary
The DRI is committed to fundraising and supporting research that can help arrive at a biological cure for diabetes by focusing on projects that strive to develop insulin-producing cells, a “pancreas” to house the cells, and immunotherapy approaches to halt immune attack.
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