Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is the leading charity organization globally funding research on type 1 diabetes (T1D). The goal of JDRF is to little by little remove the debilitating impact of T1D from the lives of people until a world without T1D is achieved. The Foundation collaborates with a broad range of partners and is arguably the only global organization having the regulatory influence, scientific resources, and a working plan to better prevent, treat, and ultimately cure T1D.
Being the leading charitable organization supporting T1D research, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is presently sponsoring about 568 million dollars in scientific medical research in 17 diverse countries. In the year 2012 alone, the Foundation provided in excess of $110 million towards T1D research.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation History
JDRF was initiated in the Philadelphia area by a group of local parents of children having T1D led by Lee Ducat, who mobilized themselves towards raising money for diabetes medical research. They created the 1st chapter of what was at that time referred to as the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. A 2nd chapter was formed soon after in Miami, Florida. This followed by more opened in chapters in Washington, D.C and northern New Jersey. The new and fledgling charitable association was defined by its total dedication to research funding. On top of the main concern being on funding T1D research, the founders of the organization resolved to keep the public informed about all the aspects of T1D, campaign for additional research funding from the government, and uphold the system of management of organization by volunteer people. From its inception, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation has developed to become a global leader in the struggle against T1D. It now has got branches and chapters in most of the U.S. states, as well as international affiliates in quite a few different countries including Australia.
The Mission
Since its inception over 40 years ago by a group of parents of children that were affected by type 1 Diabetes, the JDRF has been dedicated to getting a cure for all persons living with the disease globally. At the moment, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation acknowledges the fact that this commitment and goal is not likely to be getting fulfilled in the short term. Even though the ultimate goal of curing and getting a treatment for Type 1 Diabetes (TID)-has remained unchanged, JDRF is equally dedicated to better preventing and treating the disease. These clear objectives are aiming to make sure that both adults and children living with TID remain healthy so they could fully profit from a medical cure when that will become accessible. JDRF focuses its attention towards supporting the delivery and development of new devices and therapies which will ease the day by day challenges and burden of managing TID and on the avoidance of all known diabetes complications. In addition, towards protecting the future generations from ever developing TID, the Foundation is giving its support to approaches that prevent the disease. Therefore, JDRF is striving towards curing, treating, and preventing TID. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the only international organization having a strategic plan of bringing those people who are living with Type 1 Diabetes a constant flow of life-changing medical therapies and, eventually, a cure for the severe disease.
The highest priority of JDRF remains to fund research and deliver a cure for Type 1 Diabetes and its associated complications. JDRF is at the same time also focused on generating better treatments which will change the way people having T1D manage the disease at present, so as to assist them to live lives that are healthier now and even in the days to come. Finally, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation also seeks to stop T1D, keeping all future generations free from ever developing this disease.
All this forms part of the Foundation's promise of "less until none". Progressively removing the TID impact from the lives of persons living with this disease until such a time when it will no longer remain a threat.
Innovation and Collaboration
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation-funded medical research has culminated in many milestone advances in the science of T1D. JDRF is currently in the stimulating point of taking that wide research information plus knowledge and having it translated into real therapies which will bring about life-changing differences to those that are facing the daily TID challenges. At present, JDRF is giving funds to in excess of 50 human clinical trials, a number of of which are in their very advanced stages of being clinically tested as required before approvals from FDA could be sought.
JDRF's leadership and influence extends further than research funding. They are strategically partnering with governments, foundations, industry, healthcare insurers, clinicians and academia to make sure that JDRF as well as the partners are working and aligned towards attaining a common goal of having a world with no T1D.
The advocacy efforts of JDRF help sustain a diversity of issues which remain critical to JDRF and attaining the research objectives of the Foundation. The focus embraces more government funding for Type 1 Diabetes research and a monitoring environment which allows persons having T1D to gain from any new potential devices and therapies as safely and quickly as possible. JDRF's outreach efforts are providing resources and practical support to people with Type 1 Diabetes and their families each step of their journey way as they live and cope with T1D.
Effective Operations
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation has always been committed to upholding the highest efficiency levels towards ensuring that resources, time, and dollars may attain the greatest likely impact on people with T1D lives. JDRF has a solid track record of being able to fund research effectively and efficiently.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) was formed-and is still being led-by individuals having an individual and special connection to T1D. Currently, JDRF volunteers at over 100 locations globally remain the main driving force behind the Foundation's activities. This accords the charity an unrelenting commitment and passion towards working for the removal of the TID impact from the lives of people.
JDRF Partners
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation appreciates that effective delivery and of new devices and therapies to stop, then manage, or cure TID will not happen in a timely way without totally leveraging its available resources with its partners. Some of the key partners include:
- Academia
- Industry
- Government research funders and nonprofit foundations
- Regulatory agencies
- Healthcare payers
