Breakthrough T1D helps organise event at the European Parliament

The meeting helped to raise awareness of T1D and the urgent need for the accelerated development and approval of breakthrough therapies in the EU. Conversations between Breakthrough T1D and European policymakers examined barriers and opportunities to advancing cures including cell therapies and disease-modifying therapies in the EU to get them into the hands of people with T1D, faster. This is an important step in establishing an open dialogue between Breakthrough T1D and the EU government about working together to address T1D globally.

Breakthrough T1D staff attended the meeting alongside several Members of the European Parliament. Other attendees included people with a lived experience of T1D, health staff from EU Member States, researchers in the EU, and other European diabetes organisations.

Driving T1D research forward

T1D is on the rise around the world. We need to act now in conjunction with governments around the world to address the unmet needs of everyone around the world affected by T1D.

T1D cures, including cell therapies, are advancing through the clinical pipeline. Bringing awareness of T1D to the forefront and educating key people on the progress we’re making toward cures will be incredibly important for driving T1D research forward in the EU. This represents a critical opportunity for the EU to accelerate cell therapies faster than ever. As a global organisation, Breakthrough T1D is collaborating with the EU government to help make this possible.

Global solutions to T1D

As the largest global funder of T1D research, Breakthrough T1D has provided funding to researchers across the world in addition to the EU. Right now, Breakthrough T1D is supporting €58 million in European initiatives, including 31 clinical trials, representing 19% of our funded research (including the UK).

Breakthrough T1D has expert teams in research, medical, regulatory, and advocacy in Europe, meaning we are uniquely positioned to provide guidance on how the EU can strengthen its T1D efforts and collaborate on a global scale to drive T1D breakthroughs, especially in cell therapies.

Global problems require global solutions. This meeting served as a critical launching point for a continued partnership with the EU to fill gaps and address unmet needs for the T1D community. Building relationships and long-term partnerships is critically important for reaching our common goal of bringing cures to people with T1D as soon as possible.

Project ACT

Scientific progress takes time, money, and effort. To accelerate islet replacement therapies faster than ever, Breakthrough T1D launched Project ACT (Accelerate Cell Therapies) to simultaneously advance research, development, regulatory policies, access, and adoption of manufactured islet therapies that do not require broad immunosuppression.

We are driving toward a future where everyone with T1D, no matter where they are, has access to therapies, treatments, and care, bringing us closer to achieving our mission of a world without T1D. The more people we have working toward our mission, the faster we will get there.