Our resource hub is home to a wealth of articles, stories and videos about managing and living with type 1 diabetes.
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Our researchers are working on different ways to develop a cure for type 1 diabetes - from growing insulin-producing beta cells in labs to hacking the immune system.
Learn about the technologies that can deliver insulin automatically when needed. And discover the next generation of insulins that are currently being developed.
You could win a cash prize of up to £25,000 when you play the Breakthrough T1D lottery. As well as the chance to win great prizes, you’ll also help fund our research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.
Your donations help support people living with type 1 diabetes today and fund the best treatment and cure research, no matter where in the world it takes place.
The announcement is the biggest treatment breakthrough for type 1 diabetes since the discovery of insulin.
Join our Virtual Triathlon Challenge and swim, cycle and run while raising money to fund Breakthrough T1D’s life-changing type 1 research.
We provide a wealth of information and free resources to help you support and empower your patients or students.
Take our free course for schools to learn more about supporting pupils with type 1 diabetes in educational settings.
JDRF has now rebranded to Breakthrough T1D. Our name has changed, our mission has not.
Home > About Breakthrough T1D UK & our impact > Our research > Information for researchers > Current research funding opportunities > Research opportunities funded in partnership
Breakthrough T1D offers research funding opportunities in partnership with other research funders. There are opportunities in a wide range of fields including autoimmunity, cell biology, mental health and more specialised type 1 diabetes research.
Following the £50 million donation to type 1 diabetes research from the Steve Morgan Foundation (SMF), we have partnered with Diabetes UK and SMF to launch the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge.
This generous sum is being spread between three promising areas: research to replace beta cells, develop novel insulins, and find the root causes of type 1.
To find out more please visit the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge microsite.
If you have any questions or would like to be included on our distribution list for future Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge opportunities, please email smfgrandchallenge@breakthrought1d.org.uk.
We have joined forces with the Medical Research Council (MRC) to fund registered diabetes healthcare professionals in the UK to undertake a PhD or to reacquire research skills.
This scheme supports clinically active healthcare professionals to undertake a higher research degree, such as a PhD or MD. It can also provide post-doctoral funding for applicants who achieved their PhD over five years ago but who have not been research active since due to clinical training commitments. The scheme provides funding for your salary and project costs for three years.
You can find more information about the scheme and how to apply on the UKRI funding finder.
Call opening: 16 January 2025 Closing date: 9 April 2025 16:00 GMT Triage/Shortlisting: 1 October 2025 Interviews: 13-14 November 2025
1) 11 June 2025 – 3 September 2025
2) 22 October 2025 – 14 January 2026
3) 15 January 2026 – 8 April 2026
Daniel Doherty is the latest person to receive the award. Read more about his PhD project researching how to make islet transplants more effective.
Breakthrough T1D and Diabetes UK are delighted to partner and call applications for research addressing the issue of inequality in type 1 diabetes.
Research shows that diabetes does not affect everyone equally. Health inequalities have been widely reported in diabetes care for those from ethnic minority groups, for those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, and for those with other protected characteristics.
For more information read the highlight notice.
Key information:
For details on eligibility, and how to apply visit the health inequalities in diabetes.
We have partnered with BBSRC and Kidney Research UK to deliver a funding call available to help bioscience research teams get out of the lab and explore the commercial potential of their research/technology.
This new opportunity is offering up to £35,000 in funding. As well as providing applicants with expert training on a 4 day bootcamp, 12-14 weeks of market discovery and support to test key market assumptions, and an exciting presentation opportunity.
The deadline for this call was 10th September 2024.
To view the application guidance or apply please visit the BBSRC ICURe Explore webpage.
We have teamed up with The Novo Nordisk Research Foundation to co-fund a Research Fellowship in Clinical Diabetes. The 2024 Research Fellowship is available for Type 1 Diabetes applications only.
The Fellowship is open to doctors, nurses, midwives and healthcare professionals and offers funding for three years full-time or five years part-time.
Funding will cover the directly incurred costs of the Fellow including:
Research Fellowships go through a two-stage process consisting of an initial preliminary application. Applicants who are successful at the preliminary stage will be asked to submit a full application and will be asked to present their proposal to the Research Selection Committee.
In addition to funding, successful applicants will receive valuable education through training courses and individual support.
This funding opportunity is now closed. For more information, please visit the The Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation website. To apply for the fellowship, you must be living and working in the UK and your project must be based in the UK.
Deadline for Preliminary Research Fellowship applications was 11 December 2023 Outcome of preliminary review: 31 January 2024 Deadline for Research Fellowship full applications: 19 February 2024 (on invitation only) Shortlisted Research Fellow applicants interviews: 15 March 2024 Outcome notification: 5 April 2024
Connect Immune Research is a pioneering research initiative in which organisations tackling autoimmune conditions join forces to address the root causes of autoimmunity.
The call for Connect Immune Research Lab Placement Grants is now closed. The deadline was Thursday 22 June 2023.
Connect Immune Research Lab Placement Grants offer funding for early career researchers to undertake a placement at another research organisation, in order to learn new skills and techniques. Grants of up to £1,500 are available for overseas placements and up to £1,000 for UK-based placements.
The scheme is open to researchers with an interest in autoimmunity from year two of their PhD up to and including those with five years’ postdoctoral experience. Applicants must be BSI members and based in the UK.
All placements should demonstrate cross-condition relevance to promote networking, sharing of skills and knowledge between researchers who focus on different autoimmune conditions.
Applications are considered twice a year. We will update this page when this funding call reopens. Visit the British Society for Immunology website to find more information and the application form for the lab placement grants.
Find more Breakthrough T1D-funded research calls, administered through Breakthrough T1D International.
Read about the Breakthrough T1D UK Small Grant Awards of up to £25,000 for UK researchers.
Learn how Breakthrough T1D can help you to involve people with lived experience in your research.
