First, a moment of thanks to the JDRF Community for honoring our family with the JDRF Impact Award at the fantastic Tee to Table Event. We were truly humbled by this recognition as we are just a small part of the efforts by many to find a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D). Knowing that JDRF is by far the best opportunity to find that cure, we are “all in.” We won’t stop and we won’t be stopped. While the process for achieving a cure is complex and unpredictable, we know that there will continue to be significant advances along the way.

While serving on the JDRF International Board of Directors, it has been exciting to see the entire research portfolio. Our really talented group of scientists and physicians are relentlessly driving programs forward into human clinical studies, with 46 trials underway.

This work is not done in isolation. Progress towards a cure requires collaboration in many areas. JDRF works with the US, UK, Canadian and Australian governments to increase funding for T1D research, to improve access to care and to determine how to split up research projects. As the result of JDRF efforts, the European Union’s Innovative Medicines Initiative’s first major project is treatment for T1D. There is a significant investment of time and funding of academic centers all over the world to search for the latest concepts and promising compounds. This work includes applying learnings from other disciplines such as cancer research. Funded by JDRF, a trial using Gleevec, originally developed as a cancer drug, is currently enrolling at UCSF and four other centers. The trials are assessing whether tolerance can be induced in those with T1D. (Ensuring that academic researchers even enter the field of T1D research is an important and often unheralded part of the JDRF role.) JDRF works closely with other foundations, such as the Helmsley Charitable Trust, as well as other organizations such as the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, who engaged in joint funding for encapsulation at ViaCyte.

Advancing towards a cure requires a complete ecosystem composed of academic centers, venture capital, start-ups, biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device firms. One of the significant challenges that JDRF has been successful at overcoming is getting companies to re-direct their efforts to focus on T1D. This accomplishment is particularly important as there are many other options for companies to pursue other than T1D and the costs for gaining new drug approvals is on average nearly $2 billion.

Whether it is moving the FDA along to improve its process for approving devices and drugs, showing the economic benefit of and advocating for insurance coverage for newly-approved products, or driving for more research commitment from Congress via the National Institutes of Health, JDRF is there. The grassroots advocacy that results in hundreds of annual visits to Congress, the Children’s Congress, the “Promise to Remember Me” campaigns held in local offices, and the similar events in the UK with Parliament, is defined by others as the model for how charitable groups should conduct their programs.

The pace of knowledge is accelerating. Smart insulin, type 1 diabetes vaccines, encapsulated insulin-producing cells, advances in the artificial pancreas and even the simple, but important, technology of new infusion sets are all underway. Key learnings on how to potentially regenerate beta cells within an individual in multiple ways are under study, as are new ways to block the autoimmune attack. Because of your help, JDRF is able to tackle T1D on many fronts. Every JDRF research update offers results that keep our family excited about where we are headed. We thank all of you for your hard work. Your time and resource commitment, fundraising, and energy reflects the motivation of the entire JDRF community—and every action makes a difference. Thanks!

All the best,

Mark Fischer-Colbrie
President, Greater Bay Area Chapter Executive Board of Directors
Member, JDRF International Board of Directors

Mark Fischer-Colbrie has been personally committed to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D) since his son, Tyler, was diagnosed with T1D in 1998 at the age of 11. Along with his wife Lisa and three children, he has been intimately involved with the local JDRF Greater Bay Area Chapter, volunteering at a number of levels, including co-founding the Silicon Valley Branch Board and returning for a third term as Executive Board President. Mark is also on JDRF’s International Board of Directors where his roles have included Finance, Research, Strategic Alliances, Nominating, Research Information, Speaker’s Bureau and co-chair of the Major Gifts Working Group. Professionally, Mark has been the Chief Executive Officer and President of Labcyte, Inc. since September 2008. He has over 30 years of experience in companies in the areas of diagnostics, medical devices, therapeutics and high technology, and has taken 3 companies public. Mark is a National Finalist, Life Sciences, for Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year.”