£100 million pledge by Bukhman Foundation to transform type 1 diabetes research and treatment

We are delighted to announce that The Bukhman Foundation is pledging a historic gift of £100 million over the next 10 years to advance research and advocacy in type 1 diabetes (T1D).

This commitment underscores the Foundation’s unwavering dedication to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by T1D. The pledge will go towards supporting world-class scientific research at a range of organisations aimed at enhancing the understanding of T1D and accelerating the development of new treatments globally, and ultimately, finding a cure.

By backing innovative projects and fostering collaboration among top researchers, the Bukhman Foundation’s aim is to spearhead efforts to address the unmet needs of millions of people living with T1D worldwide.

Where the money will go

One of the first gifts from the pledge will be allocated to the Breakthrough T1D Barbara Dewey Cammett Center of Excellence in New England, USA, supporting innovative research into gene-edited, lab-grown islets, insulin-producing cells that can be transplanted into people without the need for powerful immunosuppressive drugs. This work is central to making cell therapy cures both safer and more widely accessible.

The Breakthrough T1D Barbara Dewey Cammett Center of Excellence in New England is one of five Breakthrough T1D centres of excellence worldwide pioneering a bold new research model designed to fast-track progress in type 1 diabetes science. By combining the expertise of multiple leading institutions, the Center focuses on advancing beta cell replacement therapy, a promising approach to treating T1D.

In people with T1D, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the pancreas’s beta cells, which are responsible for producing insulin. Cell therapies aim to cure T1D by replacing these destroyed cells with healthy, insulin-producing ones and ensuring they are protected so they can survive and function long-term. The Center’s mission is to develop methods for growing these cells in the laboratory and finding ways to shield them inside the body without requiring lifelong immunosuppression.

A profound impact

Anastasia and Igor Bukhman, Co-Founders of the Bukhman Foundation, said: “At the Bukhman Foundation, we know firsthand the profound impact that type 1 diabetes has on individuals and families. This pledge is deeply personal and reflects our determination to inspire hope and bring meaningful change to families everywhere.

“By funding innovative research and fostering collaboration, we aim to supercharge efforts to find new treatments and, ultimately, a cure. We hope this historic pledge will motivate others to join us in creating a future where type 1 diabetes no longer defines or limits lives.”

Catalyst for change

Karen Addington, CEO of Breakthrough T1D UK, said: “On behalf of the 9 million people living with type 1 diabetes the world over, we want to thank the Bukhman family for their Foundation’s £100 million historic commitment.

“They have turned their own experience of type 1 diabetes into a catalyst for change: to enable the world’s greatest scientists to go further and faster in advancing type 1 diabetes medical research breakthroughs. The keys to cures lie in cellular therapies, creating insulin producing beta cells and reducing immunosuppression. This gift will help unlock those cures.”

Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D., CEO of Breakthrough T1D, said: “Breakthrough T1D is driving the development and delivery of cures to people with T1D. The Bukhman Foundation’s pledge will help us further accelerate the amazing progress we are seeing in type 1 diabetes cell therapy development. These cures are truly a matter of when, not if. With generous support from people like Anastasia and Igor, we will make cell therapy cures for T1D a reality, sooner.”

About the Bukhman Foundation

The Bukhman Foundation was established in 2023 by Anastasia and Igor Bukhman to help improve lives and create a better world, from supporting breakthroughs in T1D medical research to celebrating arts and culture and providing opportunities for education.

Anastasia and Igor Bukhman believe in support that not only directly assists beneficiaries but also contributes to societal advancement by partnering with both leading institutions and local organisations across three key areas: T1D Medical Research, Education, and Arts & Culture.