Skip to main content

JDRF has now rebranded to Breakthrough T1D.
Our name has changed, our mission has not.

Our research

One day, we will create a world without type 1 diabetes. Until that day, your support is vital for our international research to cure, treat and prevent type 1.

A type 1 diabetes researcher working on a beta cells project, in the lab.

What research does Breakthrough T1D UK fund?

We fund international research that will cure, treat and prevent type 1 diabetes and its complications. We focus on investing in research that will transform the lives of people with type 1 diabetes – improving treatments today until we find a cure.

Gene double helix being researched blue icon
400+

Over 400 active research studies are being funded by Breakthrough T1D UK around the world

Globe with country map centred on Europe blue icon
21

Breakthrough T1D UK-funded research is currently taking place in 21 countries

Microscope blue icon
20

At any one time, Breakthrough T1D UK is funding around 20 research projects in the UK

Learn about our research

Discover how we’re working to cure, treat and prevent type 1 diabetes

Recent research highlights

Read more
A girl with type 1 diabetes after a teplizumab injection
Treatments

Teplizumab: The world’s first type 1 diabetes disease-modifying drug approved in the US

The US FDA recently approved a drug that can delay the onset of type 1 diabetes for up to three years, called teplizumab. This success wouldn’t have happened without 30 years of Breakthrough T1D UK funding research.

Read more
Illustration of the hybrid closed loop technology system, funded as part of treatment research for type 1 diabetes by Breakthrough T1D UK.
Treatments

Hybrid closed loop to be recommended for over 100,000 people with type 1 diabetes

Since 2006, we have funded research to develop and test hybrid closed loop (HCL) technology, which links people's insulin pump to their continuous glucose monitor. Now, HCL is set to become available to many people on the NHS.

Read more
Microscopic view of stem cells
Cure

Promising stem cell therapy for type 1 given green light to progress

For over 20 years, we funded Professor Doug Melton to grow stem cells into insulin-producing beta cells. Doug now works at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, who are running a clinical trial transplanting Doug’s lab-grown beta cells into people with type 1.

Latest research projects

Read more
Professor Yanick Crow
Prevention

Understanding the role of interferon in autoimmunity

Connect Immune Research has launched a first-of-its-kind research project to confront the UK’s high prevalence of autoimmune conditions.

Read more
Professor Alexander Midas
Treatment

Testing a new treatment to lower blood glucose in people with type 1

Professor Alexander Miras is investigating whether alpha-melanocyte stimulatory hormone (α-MSH) can lower blood sugar levels in people with type 1.

Read more
Daniel Doherty
Treatment

Improving islet transplants to treat type 1 diabetes

Daniel Doherty’s research project aims to make islet transplants last longer and work better to benefit more people with type 1.

Read more
Professor Kourosh Saeb-Parsy
Prevention

Analysing pancreas biology to enable early detection of type 1 diabetes

Lead researcher, Kourosh, says his study has the potential to transform our understanding of diabetes.

Read more
Dr Leslie Johnson
Treatment

Improving mental health and blood glucose management in people with type 1 diabetes and depression

Dr Leslie Johnson will explore whether a collaborative care model that is effective for type 2 diabetes can be adapted for people with type 1.

Read more
Dr Chloe Rackham
Treatment

Can islet helper cells in the pancreas treat type 1 diabetes?

Dr Chloe Rackham is investigating how supportive cells called mesenchymal stem cells may help protect people from developing type 1.

Read more
Dr Ify Mordi, lead type 1 diabetes researcher
Complications Treatment

The SOPHIST Trial: sotagliflozin for people with type 1 and heart failure

Dr Ify Mordi is an expert in heart disease and diabetes at the University of Dundee. We are funding Ify to run the first clinical trial of the drug sotagliflozin in people living with type 1 diabetes and heart failure.

Read more
Professor Richard Oram
Prevention

Calculating a type 1 diabetes risk score 

In his Breakthrough T1D UK-funded project, Dr Richard Oram is developing a type 1 diabetes risk score to predict who will develop type 1 diabetes in the future. The research Richard and his team at the University of Exeter are doing will help how we screen people for type 1.

Stories from the lab

Latest research news

Read more
A headshot of Professor David Baker in his laboratory.
Research
14 October 2024

Breakthrough T1D-funded researcher wins Nobel Prize

Professor David Baker, a Breakthrough T1D-funded researcher at the University of Washington, has been awarded a Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Read more
Five people in an office around a table in discussion about work
Research
3 September 2024

Top 10 research priorities for adults living with type 1 diabetes

A study we helped conduct, which has just been published, reveals the most important unanswered questions about type 1 diabetes, based on the priorities of adults in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This will help guide future research to focus on what matters most to people living with the condition.

Read more
A vial of clear liquid in front of a syringe.
Research
2 September 2024

JDRF-funded smart insulin research shows promise

When given to mice and pigs with type 1 diabetes, a new type of oral insulin developed with JDRF funding detects rising blood glucose and quickly lowers it to a safe level without causing hypos.

Read more
Type 1 diabetic daisy wearing a medical mask and sat looking at the camera from her hospital chair during one of her clinical trial appointments
Research
31 July 2024

Psoriasis drug shows promise for treating type 1 diabetes

New research finds that ustekinumab, a drug commonly used to treat psoriasis, may help children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes keep making insulin for longer.

Our research partnerships

We work with researchers and partner organisations to make sure we can improve life with type 1 diabetes as quickly as possible. Learn about the research we do in partnership with other organisations.

Read more

Our research partnerships

Discover how we work with other organisations to help us make every penny we receive from our amazing supporters go even further to help people with type 1.

Read more
Connect Immune Research partnership logo

Connect Immune Research

Learn about how we're partnering with other autoimmune research funders, pooling our resources to help prevent and cure a range of autoimmune conditions, including type 1 diabetes.

Read more
A woman type 1 diabetes scientist in a laboratory

The Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge

The Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge is a partnership between the Steve Morgan Foundation, Diabetes UK and Breakthrough T1D UK. We are united by our ambition to cure type 1 diabetes.