Endocrine Abstracts

I will describe how Diabetes UK and Breakthrough T1D have worked with the Steve Morgan Foundation to distribute £50m of research funding to accelerate the progress to cure in type 1 diabetes. Drawing on the generosity of the global diabetes scientific community who have provided advice and guidance, the funding has been distributed to 3 areas, causes of T1D and prevention, cell therapy as curative therapy and novel insulins. The first awards were distributed to 3 early career researchers who are addressing the first two areas and further funding has been provided to other groups in the UK who are examining key steps which will improve the ability of immune therapies to prevent the onset of diabetes at high risk, a clear pathway to cure. The GC funding has allowed us to work with NIHR to ensure that the UK is an attractive option for both pharma and academics to place their clinical trials of stem cell therapy. We are now planning to set up a clinical trial network involving the NIHR CRFs and BRCs to facilitate both rapid recruitment and high quality delivery across the UK. Both approaches identify key pathways to a cure, although this is still some years away. The final tranche of funding has been provided to address the major challenge of finding novel insulins which are fit for therapeutic use. We have awarded preliminary funding to international academics who are proposing exciting new innovative approaches to solving this longstanding challenge. Since most scientists who are conducting research in this area work outside Europe, with Steve and Sally Morgan’s approval, funding has been awarded to do labs in the USA, China and Australia. There is no doubt that this unprecedented and generous funding has sparked global interest and accelerated the path to a cure for those with T1D. The next challenge is to ensure that the scientific activity which has been generated can be built on, ensuring that progress in these key areas continues, accelerates and those who have been supported can use their work as a springboard to leverage substantial funding from other sources.