Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune condition resulting in absolute insulin deficiency, for which there is no available cure. A highly promising approach to cure the condition is to replace the insulin-producing islet cells that are damaged or destroyed through transplanting an “islet replacement product”. Canada has been a world leader in the field of islet replacement therapy for T1D over 20 years and remains at the cutting edge today, in terms of both clinical practice and research productivity. Many global breakthroughs and much of the momentum – largely led by Canadian researchers and clinical trials taking place in Canada – have been enabled through funding of research grants by JDRF and CIHR. Past and ongoing projects supported by these funders include research that aims to:

• optimize islet replacement products to treat T1D from a renewable source of stem cells;
• test the safety and efficacy of manufactured islet products in animal models of T1D in preparation for clinical trials;
• scale-up manufacturing of a high-quality islet replacement product to treat unlimited numbers of patients with T1D;
• advance innovative approaches to reduce or eliminate immunosuppression required with transplant of an islet replacement therapy; and
• leverage gene-editing technology to produce next-generation islet replacement products.

Sustained investment in Canadian research on islet replacement therapy is imperative to capitalize on investments to date for the benefit of the 300,000 Canadians living with T1D, whose lives could be transformed with the delivery of a cell-based cure for their condition. With sufficient funding, Canada will lead the global effort required to translate current research momentum into new treatments and cures for T1D.

An investment of $50 million from the federal government (with a $25 million match from JDRF Canada) will accelerate science at a monumental speed. Without an injection of funding, the immense progress that has been made in Canada towards cell therapy cures for T1D will largely dwindle. The momentum that we have gained through the strong JDRF-CIHR Partnership to Defeat Diabetes has brought us to the brink of breakthroughs – it is time to push forward this exceptional science and solidify Canada’s position as a powerhouse in the race to cure T1D.

Sincerely,

Dr. James Johnson, Professor, University of British Columbia

Dr. Timothy Kieffer, Professor, University of British Columbia

Dr. Gregory Korbutt, Professor, University of Alberta

Dr. Megan Levings, Professor, University of British Columbia

Dr. Dan Luciani, Associate Professor, University of British Columbia

Dr. Francis Lynn, Associate Professor, University of British Columbia

Dr. Hongshen Ma, Associate Professor, University of British Columbia

Dr. Andras Nagy, Senior Investigator, Mount Sinai Hospital

Dr. Cristina Nostro, Senior Scientist, University Health Network

Dr. Amanda Oakie, Postdoctoral Fellow, University Health Network

Dr. Andrew Pepper, Assistant Professor, University of Alberta

Dr. Rémi Rabasa-Lhoret, Professor and Endocrinologist, Université de Montreal, IRCM

Dr. Michael Sefton, Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Peter Senior, Professor and Endocrinologist, University of Alberta; Director, Alberta Diabetes Inst.

Dr. James Shapiro, Professor and Transplant Surgeon, University of Alberta

Dr. Bruce Verchere, Professor, University of British Columbia