Major type 1 diabetes research programme extended until 2020

Funding for a major European type 1 diabetes research programme has been extended for another two years.
Several organisations and charities joined forces in 2015 to form the European Programme in Type 1 Diabetes Research and it will now continue until 2020.
The European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD), type 1 charity JDRF and Eli Lilly and Company have all agreed to collaborate and provide up to $100,000 (£72,350) grants to non-profit institutions across the continent. A total of 19 organisations have already benefitted allowing researchers to continue studying the autoimmune condition.
EFSD’s chairma, Professor Stefano Del Prato, said: “Living with type 1 diabetes is a constant balancing act for those affected, and the disease still remains insufficiently understood.
“Together with Lilly and JDRF, we are committed to fund promising scientific research in Europe to prevent, treat and finally cure type 1 diabetes and its complications.”
It is hoped the money gifted will help and support organisations to continue their work into high-quality biomedical and clinical type 1 diabetes research, as well as raising awareness of the condition.
Dr Sanjay Dutta, JDRF’s assistant vice president of research and international partnerships, said: “JDRF is proud to continue its support of this very effective collaboratio, which is advancing the highest quality type 1 diabetes research in Europe.
“By expediting our understanding of this disease and the clinical research that may lead to breakthrough therapies, we are taking significant steps toward our vision of a world without type 1 diabetes.”
Lilly’s vice president of diabetes research and clinical research, Dr Ruth Gimeno, said as a company they “remain committed to our mission to make the lives of people with diabetes better by advancing cutting-edge research”.
She added: “We are pleased to continue our collaboration with important organizations like EFSD and JDRF to advance that goal. The success of the programme over the past three years inspired us to continue the relationship and investment for the next three years.”