Breakthrough T1D Wisconsin

Breakthrough T1D, formerly JDRF, began at the grassroots level in early 1970: a group of loving and caring parents came together to talk about caring for their children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The parents – led by Lee Ducat, Carol and Edwin Lurie, and others – were looking for answers and hope for their children facing a life of uncertainty and possible early death.

Ultimately, they formed the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (now Breakthrough T1D) because they believed that T1D could and would be cured with research. Fifty years later, JDRF is the world's largest nonprofit funder of T1D research, with 29 U.S. chapters and five international affiliates. JDRF leads the fight against T1D by funding research, advocating for policies to accelerate access to new therapies, and providing a support network for millions worldwide.

The legacy these loving parents leave is a 25-year increase in life expectancy for people with T1D. Breakthrough T1D Wisconsin is led by a community board of directors in Northeastern Wisconsin (Appleton), Southeastern Wisconsin (Milwaukee) and Western Wisconsin (Madison).

Breakthrough T1D’s vision is simple: a world without type one diabetes. Breakthrough T1D’s employees and volunteers are steadfast in the work toward this vision through their mission of improving lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat type one diabetes (T1D) and its complications through the following core areas of focus:

Research - Breakthrough T1D, formerly JDRF, is the leading global organization funding T1D research. Since its inception in 1970, Breakthrough T1D has committed more than $2.5 billion to research that has revolutionized our understanding of T1D. This has resulted in bringing numerous life-changing treatments to market, as well as significantly advancing the science around T1D to get closer to not only preventing, but also curing the disease. It is a renaissance time for T1D research from which incredible advances are being made that benefit every single person impacted by this disease. Promising clinical trials in stem cell replacement therapy and more artificial pancreas systems receiving approval in the U.S. provide hope to so many that a cure is near.

Advocacy - Breakthrough T1D successfully advocates for Federal support of research funding to accelerate the discovery of life-changing therapies, as well as regulatory and healthcare policies to ensure that the T1D community has broad access to these therapies. Most recently major inroads and successes have transpired in the quest for affordable insulin, medication that is necessary for the survival of type one diabetics, but skyrocketing prices have resulted in rationing of insulin or simply not taking it all because of the expense, with dire outcomes.

Community Engagement - T1D places a tremendous burden – not just physical, but also emotional and financial – on the individuals and families it impacts. Through outreach programming, Breakthrough T1D Wisconsin empowers the T1D community by providing critical support, creating access to free educational opportunities, and making important connections so that all those impacted by the disease can thrive in spite of it.