2023 has already been a big year for the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge. In February, we opened two major funding rounds focussed on the root causes of type 1 and treatments to replace insulin-making beta cells. Then, in March, we were delighted to reveal the first researchers who’ve been awarded Grand Challenge funding.

To take stock and celebrate the progress we’ve made and the momentum that has already been built, yesterday we gathered those at the forefront of the Grand Challenge for a special event held at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference in Liverpool. It was the very first time the Steve Morgan Foundation, JDRF, Diabetes UK and the scientific experts steering and leading the Challenge were together in the same room.

We heard from the CEOs of JDRF UK, Karen Addington, and Diabetes UK, Chris Askew. It was a moment for them to thank Steve and Sally Morgan for making this endeavour possible and the Scientific Advisory Panel Chair and Vice Chairs for their invaluable guidance and support. It was also a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the first Grand Challenge awardees, Prof Sarah Richardson, Dr Victoria Salem and Dr James Cantley, our Type 1 Diabetes Senior Research Fellows.

We heard from Professor Simon Heller, the Chair of our Scientific Advisory Panels, who explained how the Grand Challenge is rewriting the rule book for type 1 diabetes research – not just here in the UK but across the globe too. It was also an opportunity to hear about how the Grand Challenge has catalysed collaboration between these three amazing scientists and their institutions.

Steve and Sally Morgan rounded off the celebrations by presenting our new trio of Senior Research Fellows with bespoke plaques to mark the start of their innovative research.

We look forward to handing out more awards to the next scientists who receive Grand Challenge funding, and to growing the network of disruptive, multidisciplinary teams who will propel us closer to a cure for type 1 diabetes.

2023 has already been a big year for the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge. In February, we opened two major funding rounds focussed on the root causes of type 1 and treatments to replace insulin-making beta cells. Then, in March, we were delighted to reveal the first researchers who’ve been awarded Grand Challenge funding.

To take stock and celebrate the progress we’ve made and the momentum that has already been built, yesterday we gathered those at the forefront of the Grand Challenge for a special event held at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference in Liverpool. It was the very first time the Steve Morgan Foundation, JDRF, Diabetes UK and the scientific experts steering and leading the Challenge were together in the same room.

We heard from the CEOs of JDRF UK, Karen Addington, and Diabetes UK, Chris Askew. It was a moment for them to thank Steve and Sally Morgan for making this endeavour possible and the Scientific Advisory Panel Chair and Vice Chairs for their invaluable guidance and support. It was also a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the first Grand Challenge awardees, Prof Sarah Richardson, Dr Victoria Salem and Dr James Cantley, our Type 1 Diabetes Senior Research Fellows.

We heard from Professor Simon Heller, the Chair of our Scientific Advisory Panels, who explained how the Grand Challenge is rewriting the rule book for type 1 diabetes research – not just here in the UK but across the globe too. It was also an opportunity to hear about how the Grand Challenge has catalysed collaboration between these three amazing scientists and their institutions.

Steve and Sally Morgan rounded off the celebrations by presenting our new trio of Senior Research Fellows with bespoke plaques to mark the start of their innovative research.

We look forward to handing out more awards to the next scientists who receive Grand Challenge funding, and to growing the network of disruptive, multidisciplinary teams who will propel us closer to a cure for type 1 diabetes.

2023 has already been a big year for the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge. In February, we opened two major funding rounds focussed on the root causes of type 1 and treatments to replace insulin-making beta cells. Then, in March, we were delighted to reveal the first researchers who’ve been awarded Grand Challenge funding.

To take stock and celebrate the progress we’ve made and the momentum that has already been built, yesterday we gathered those at the forefront of the Grand Challenge for a special event held at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference in Liverpool. It was the very first time the Steve Morgan Foundation, JDRF, Diabetes UK and the scientific experts steering and leading the Challenge were together in the same room.

We heard from the CEOs of JDRF UK, Karen Addington, and Diabetes UK, Chris Askew. It was a moment for them to thank Steve and Sally Morgan for making this endeavour possible and the Scientific Advisory Panel Chair and Vice Chairs for their invaluable guidance and support. It was also a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the first Grand Challenge awardees, Prof Sarah Richardson, Dr Victoria Salem and Dr James Cantley, our Type 1 Diabetes Senior Research Fellows.

We heard from Professor Simon Heller, the Chair of our Scientific Advisory Panels, who explained how the Grand Challenge is rewriting the rule book for type 1 diabetes research – not just here in the UK but across the globe too. It was also an opportunity to hear about how the Grand Challenge has catalysed collaboration between these three amazing scientists and their institutions.

Steve and Sally Morgan rounded off the celebrations by presenting our new trio of Senior Research Fellows with bespoke plaques to mark the start of their innovative research.

We look forward to handing out more awards to the next scientists who receive Grand Challenge funding, and to growing the network of disruptive, multidisciplinary teams who will propel us closer to a cure for type 1 diabetes.

2023 has already been a big year for the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge. In February, we opened two major funding rounds focussed on the root causes of type 1 and treatments to replace insulin-making beta cells. Then, in March, we were delighted to reveal the first researchers who’ve been awarded Grand Challenge funding.

To take stock and celebrate the progress we’ve made and the momentum that has already been built, yesterday we gathered those at the forefront of the Grand Challenge for a special event held at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference in Liverpool. It was the very first time the Steve Morgan Foundation, JDRF, Diabetes UK and the scientific experts steering and leading the Challenge were together in the same room.

We heard from the CEOs of JDRF UK, Karen Addington, and Diabetes UK, Chris Askew. It was a moment for them to thank Steve and Sally Morgan for making this endeavour possible and the Scientific Advisory Panel Chair and Vice Chairs for their invaluable guidance and support. It was also a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the first Grand Challenge awardees, Prof Sarah Richardson, Dr Victoria Salem and Dr James Cantley, our Type 1 Diabetes Senior Research Fellows.

We heard from Professor Simon Heller, the Chair of our Scientific Advisory Panels, who explained how the Grand Challenge is rewriting the rule book for type 1 diabetes research – not just here in the UK but across the globe too. It was also an opportunity to hear about how the Grand Challenge has catalysed collaboration between these three amazing scientists and their institutions.

Steve and Sally Morgan rounded off the celebrations by presenting our new trio of Senior Research Fellows with bespoke plaques to mark the start of their innovative research.

We look forward to handing out more awards to the next scientists who receive Grand Challenge funding, and to growing the network of disruptive, multidisciplinary teams who will propel us closer to a cure for type 1 diabetes.

The Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge is turbo-charging the race to find new treatments and ultimately a cure for type 1 diabetes. The partnership has now successfully appointed 17 leading international scientists to advise on its £50 million investment into type 1 diabetes research. 

To help us to deliver this ambitious programme, the 17 experts are advising on the scientific scope and optimum funding mechanisms for the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge over the 5-year partnership. 

The experts join one of three independent Scientific Advisory Panels, each advising on one of the Grand Challenge research areas previously identified as carrying the most potential to improve the lives of people with type 1 diabetes and propel us towards a cure. 

• Root causes of type 1 diabetes Panel, led by Professor Chantal Mathieu, and joined by Professor Jay Skyler, Professor Mark Atkinson, Professor Anette-Gabriele Ziegler and Professor Roberto Mallone. 
• Beta cell replacement Panel, led by Professor Matthias Hebrok, and joined by Jorge Ferrer, Professor Doug Melton, Professor Lorenzo Piemonti, Professor Lori  Sussel and Professor Qizhi Tang 
• Novel insulins Panel, led by Dr Tim Heise and joined by Dr David Kelley, Professor John Buse, Dr Reinhard Becker and Dr Diane McCarthy. 

All three Panels are Chaired by Professor Simon Heller, a world-renowned diabetes specialist. 

Dr Elizabeth Robertson, Director of Research at Diabetes UK, said: 

“We are honored to have so many of the world’s most distinguished diabetes researchers advising the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge. Their expertise will help to ensure that every penny of the Steve Morgan Foundation’s £50 million gift is invested in bold, innovative research with the greatest potential to improve the lives of people with type 1 diabetes. 

“We’re delighted to see the global research community united in their support of the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge and look forward to seeing new, exciting research focusing on accelerating progress towards a cure for type 1 diabetes get underway next year”

Rachel Connor, Director of Research Partnerships at JDRF, said: 

“We’re delighted to welcome so many globally renowned scientists, who are already giving us the benefit of their insight and expertise as we shape this Grand Challenge. They are ensuring the research we support through this game-changing partnership will best meet the needs of people living with type 1. The calibre of membership we’ve been able to attract to the new panels is testament to how thrilling the new research, supported by the partnership, will be.” 

Following the exciting announcement in April about a new partnership between the Steve Morgan Foundation, Diabetes UK and JDRF to invest £50m into game-changing type 1 diabetes research, we have opened our first funding round. We’re calling on scientists to submit research proposals that could be transformational for people with type 1 diabetes.

First-class research cannot happen without first class researchers. Diabetes UK and JDRF are committed to nurturing the diabetes research leaders of the future, so for the first research call we have worked together to develop a new senior fellowship programme.

Supporting the best research minds

Fellowships are awards for individual researchers that support them to develop their careers, build their own research teams, and make diabetes research their life’s work.

The new Type 1 Diabetes Senior Research Fellowship will allow exceptional researchers, with a track-record of impactful research, to become world leaders in their field and lead the race for new treatments and a cure for type 1 diabetes.

The fellowship will award scientists up to £1.5 million to research:

• the root causes of type 1 diabetes, and/or
• treatments to replace or rescue insulin-making beta cells in people with type 1 diabetes

These areas, along with novel insulins, were identified as carrying the most potential to improve the lives of people with type 1 diabetes and propel us towards a cure.

The research community will have until September 2022 to shape their ideas and apply for the fellowship. Diabetes UK and JDRF will then work with research experts and people living with or affected by type 1 diabetes to review the applications. They will select those submitted by researchers with exceptional track-records and that involve the highest quality science, with the greatest chance of benefiting people with type 1 diabetes. We expect to announce the final funding decisions in early 2023 and will keep you updated.

This fellowship will be administered by Diabetes UK on behalf of the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge Partnership.

If you’re a diabetes researcher, find out more information about the call and application process.

Following the exciting announcement in April about a new partnership between the Steve Morgan Foundation, Diabetes UK and JDRF to invest £50m into game-changing type 1 diabetes research, we have opened our first funding round. We’re calling on scientists to submit research proposals that could be transformational for people with type 1 diabetes.

First-class research cannot happen without first class researchers. Diabetes UK and JDRF are committed to nurturing the diabetes research leaders of the future, so for the first research call we have worked together to develop a new senior fellowship programme.

Supporting the best research minds

Fellowships are awards for individual researchers that support them to develop their careers, build their own research teams, and make diabetes research their life’s work.

The new Type 1 Diabetes Senior Research Fellowship will allow exceptional researchers, with a track-record of impactful research, to become world leaders in their field and lead the race for new treatments and a cure for type 1 diabetes.

The fellowship will award scientists up to £1.5 million to research:

• the root causes of type 1 diabetes, and/or
• treatments to replace or rescue insulin-making beta cells in people with type 1 diabetes

These areas, along with novel insulins, were identified as carrying the most potential to improve the lives of people with type 1 diabetes and propel us towards a cure.