Diabetes Research Connection

Diabetes Research Connection The Diabetes Research Connection is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in San Diego, California.

At Diabetes Research Connection, we connect the pieces — uniting donors and early-career scientists to fund innovative Type 1 Diabetes research that drives progress, inspires breakthroughs, and moves us closer to a cure.. Established in 2012 by five tireless proponents of diabetes research, our mission is to connect donors with early-career scientists enabling them to perform peer-reviewed, novel

research designed to prevent and cure type 1 diabetes, minimize its complications and improve the quality of life for those living with the disease. One out of every hundred Americans has type 1 diabetes. Millions of children and adults struggle with this autoimmune disease. Despite these numbers, funding for diabetes research has declined. Of the funding available, 97% goes to established scientists. Scientific breakthroughs often emerge due to the inventiveness of early-career scientists. Albert Einstein revealed his theory of general relativity at 26. Banting & Best discovered insulin before they turned 33. Imagine our world today if these scientists had not received funding for their research? These young scientists have exciting new ideas however, mainstream funding rarely supports them, so their ideas simply can’t off the ground…until now. We grant up to $50,000 to support each research project. How it works:

Scientists from across the country submit their projects through our website. Members of our panel of more than 80 of the leadingabout_us diabetes experts review each proposal for innovation, value and feasibility. These established scientists donate their time and expertise to encourage the next generation of diabetes investigators. The time from application to funding can be as few as 12 weeks, compared to over a year for other funding agencies. In 2015, 100% of our research funds will go directly to the scientists. To ensure transparency, each researcher provides updates on their project and posts final outcomes on our website. Support comes from tax-deductible donations made by individuals, corporations and foundations. Donors have the power to select the research project or projects they wish to fund from an array of peer-reviewed proposals posted on our website. Ordinary people making extraordinary efforts is what changes the world. Your support may very well be what unlocks the diabetes puzzle that continues to plague millions of people.

Starting college with type 1 diabetes comes with a lot of new independence… and a lot of new things to think about.For b...
08/24/2026

Starting college with type 1 diabetes comes with a lot of new independence… and a lot of new things to think about.

For back-to-school season, we created a practical guide to help students prepare for the parts of college life that can affect T1D in ways you may not expect: dorm living, prescriptions and supplies, accommodations, dining halls, long days on campus, classes and exams, alcohol and late nights, dating, diabetes burnout, and emergency planning.

Planning ahead can make the transition feel more manageable and give you more space to focus on classes, friendships, new experiences, and everything else college has to offer.

Save this guide for move-in, send it to a student starting college, or share it with a family getting ready for this transition. 💌📚✏️🍎

The final installment of our The Savvy Diabetic interview series is here! 💙After more than 60 years with type 1 diabetes...
08/14/2026

The final installment of our The Savvy Diabetic interview series is here! 💙

After more than 60 years with type 1 diabetes, Joanne Milo is still looking ahead. Her latest focus: ensuring that people aging with T1D have the research, resources, healthcare, and representation they deserve.

Through T1D to 100, Joanne is helping bring the voices of older adults with T1D to researchers and healthcare providers while building a community focused on aging safely, confidently, and with dignity.

🔗 Read the full blog at https://diabetesresearchconnection.org/the-savvy-diabetic-aging-t1d/

When Nick’s son Parker was diagnosed with T1D at just 2½ years old, his family’s life changed overnight. Five years late...
08/12/2026

When Nick’s son Parker was diagnosed with T1D at just 2½ years old, his family’s life changed overnight. Five years later, his daughter Evie was diagnosed too.

Their experiences inspired Nick and his wife to help make life with T1D a little easier through Palmr and its insulin-pump-friendly designs. 💙

In our latest blog, Nick shares his family’s story, the inspiration behind Palmr, his advice for other T1D parents, and what gives him hope for the future of diabetes research.

🔗 Read the full story at https://diabetesresearchconnection.org/onboard-by-palmr/

Reason to Smile Sunday 🤗Meeting families at community events is one of our favorite parts of what we do. That's how we m...
08/09/2026

Reason to Smile Sunday 🤗
Meeting families at community events is one of our favorite parts of what we do. That's how we met Isla and her family, just two months after her Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. We invited them to visit the DRC office to meet our team and learn how they had a community ready to support them. Isla spent the afternoon bedazzling CGM's with Brooklynn, our Development Coordinator, who has lived with T1D for most of her life.

Sometimes the most reassuring person to meet is someone who has already lived through what you are only beginning to navigate. For Isla, was a safe place to ask questions and get honest answers rooted in experience. For Brooklynn, it meant becoming the kind of support she wishes every newly diagnosed child could have, knowing it can make a lasting impact on a young girl with T1D (like it did for her!)

Moments like these are at the heart of what we do.
Our work begins with funding the next breakthroughs in Type 1 diabetes research, but grows through every family, advocate, researcher, and supporter who joins us.

Whatever your connection to T1D may be, and wherever you are in your journey, our door is always open. We would love to welcome you to the office, share our mission, and help find your place in our community.

Research changes tomorrow.
Connection helps carry us through today.

When people think of Type 1 diabetes, they often think about insulin, carb counting, and blood sugar. But that's only pa...
07/17/2026

When people think of Type 1 diabetes, they often think about insulin, carb counting, and blood sugar. But that's only part of the story.

T1D is an autoimmune disease that can affect nearly every system in the body, increasing the risk of kidney disease, heart disease, nerve damage, vision loss, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and even depression. For millions of people living with T1D, these complications are part of the reality they face every day.

That's why Diabetes Research Connection funds more than the search for a cure. We invest in innovative research focused on preventing, treating, and understanding the complications of T1D, helping people live longer, healthier lives while we continue working toward a world without this disease.

Read our latest blog to learn about the hidden complications of T1D and how DRC-funded researchers are working to change the future. https://diabetesresearchconnection.org/hidden-complications-of-t1d/

✨ Introducing our new Product Spotlight Series! ✨Living with Type 1 diabetes means using devices and tools every day, so...
07/16/2026

✨ Introducing our new Product Spotlight Series! ✨

Living with Type 1 diabetes means using devices and tools every day, so we know how helpful honest, thoughtful reviews are from someone who truly understands what it is like to live with T1D.

That’s why we’re excited to launch our new Product Spotlight series! Each review combines DRC’s commitment to trusted education with our Development Coordinator Brooklynn’s personal perspective after more than 20 years of having T1D .

We’ll explore the story behind each company, how it works, who it might be helpful for, and share an honest look at what it’s like to use in everyday life.

Our very first spotlight features Glowcose, a creative device that transforms your CGM readings into calming colors, helping you stay connected to your glucose without constantly checking your phone.

We’re grateful to the companies creating thoughtful innovations that make life with T1D safer, easier, and even a little more fun. While these products may be provided for review, we’re never paid to endorse them, and every opinion shared is our honest experience.

📖 Read the full review at our link in bio under product spotlights!

What product would you love to see us review next? 👇

For more than 60 years, Joanne has navigated life with Type 1 diabetes. Along the way, she discovered one powerful truth...
07/13/2026

For more than 60 years, Joanne has navigated life with Type 1 diabetes. Along the way, she discovered one powerful truth: no one should have to do it alone.

After a medical emergency revealed just how unprepared she was, Joanne turned her experience into action, creating The Savvy Diabetic to help others navigate the everyday realities of T1D with confidence. What began as a survival guide has grown into a trusted community sharing practical tips, the latest diabetes research, and hope for the future.

In Part 2 of our interview series, discover how one person's experience became a resource that's helping thousands of people living with T1D.

Read the full story at https://diabetesresearchconnection.org/the-savvy-diabetic-series-part-2/

Stay tuned for Part 3, where Joanne shares her newest passion project, T1D to 100.

What if the key to protecting insulin-producing beta cells isn't one drug, but several working together? That's the ques...
07/09/2026

What if the key to protecting insulin-producing beta cells isn't one drug, but several working together? That's the question DRC-funded researcher Dr. Nagesha Kondegowda is exploring.

His innovative approach combines drugs that have already been shown to be safe in humans, with the goal of protecting beta cells, helping them recover from damage, and even encouraging them to grow.

By funding early-career researchers with bold ideas like this, we're helping move promising discoveries closer to the people who need them most.

Read the full Researcher Spotlight to learn how this project could help shape the future of type 1 diabetes treatment. https://diabetesresearchconnection.org/dr-kondegowda/

🚨 Our Request for Applications is officially open!The next breakthrough in Type 1 diabetes research could begin with an ...
07/03/2026

🚨 Our Request for Applications is officially open!

The next breakthrough in Type 1 diabetes research could begin with an idea that's waiting to be funded.

Applications for RFA 2026-1 are now open through July 31 for eligible early-career researchers pursuing innovative approaches to preventing, better treating, and ultimately curing T1D.

At Diabetes Research Connection, we believe bold ideas deserve a chance. By providing seed funding at a critical stage, we help researchers generate the data they need to compete for larger grants and move promising discoveries closer to the people who need them most.

Know an eligible researcher? Tag them below or share this post to help us reach the next generation of T1D innovators. Apply at: https://diabetesresearchconnection.org/submit-a-project/

Address

1400 Maiden Lane
Del Mar, CA
92014

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