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Fueling Breakthroughs with the Diabetes Research Connection (DRC)
Discover an organization dedicated to advancing cures for type 1 diabetes (T1D) by connecting early-career researchers with donors to bring groundbreaking ideas to life—the Diabetes Research Connection (DRC). Based in San Diego, DRC’s renowned Scientific Review Committee brings together more than 74 top scientific minds, all volunteering their expertise to identify the most promising projects and provides crucial seed funding to accelerate innovative research aimed at preventing, treating, and curing T1D.
T1D is a life-threatening autoimmune disease and one of the fastest growing, non-communicable, chronic health conditions on the planet. There are over 9.4 million people living with T1D worldwide – a number is expected to double by 2040. Even with advances in technology, managing T1D is a constant, life-threatening challenge. Those with T1D must rely on insulin to stay alive, but insulin is a treatment, not a cure, and DRC’s vision is a world free of T1D.
You can be part of the breakthrough by joining DRC for its annual Dance for Diabetes fundraiser on September 27th at 5:00 p.m. at the La Valle Coastal Club in Rancho Santa Fe. This pivotal event raises essential funds to advance groundbreaking T1D research, supporting innovative projects that have the potential to change lives.
More than an evening out, Dance for Diabetes unites a passionate community determined to accelerate progress toward a cure. Attendees will enjoy live music, curated cuisine, and exclusive live and silent auctions while hearing inspiring stories from researchers and individuals impacted by T1D. By attending or supporting this event, you directly help champion cutting-edge research with the power to change the future of T1D.
DRC was co-founded in 2012 by David Winkler, JD, alongside three UCSD scientists to address the critical lack of funding for early-career T1D researchers with groundbreaking ideas. A tireless advocate for diabetes research and a T1D patient himself, David now serves on DRC’s Board of Directors as Chief Financial Officer.
His personal journey fuels DRC’s mission: “Since I was a child diagnosed with T1D at age 6, it has been a dream of mine to help find a cure for T1D. Finally, we are getting closer due to the extraordinary efforts of DRC’s funded investigators, our staff, and volunteers.”
“With massive NIH funding cuts, support of DRC’s vetted researchers is more critical than ever before. We are on the cusp of a cure.”
David reflects on a recent success story which highlights the groundbreaking work made possible by donor support – Dr. Leonardo Ferreira, a DRC-funded scientist developing an innovative approach to help the immune system accept transplanted beta cells without attacking them. His technology uses Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells to shield these beta cells, which produce insulin in response to blood glucose levels.
“This potential cure for T1D, without the need for lifelong immunosuppression, could be the holy grail,” David says.
At the June 2025 American Diabetes Association annual conference, Dr. Ferreira presented results showing that one patient may have been cured of T1D the need for immunosuppressive drugs—a historic milestone. This technology has been licensed to Sana, a Swedish pharmaceutical company, which also presented at the conference.
Dr. Ferreira explains that combining stem cell engineering with regulatory T cell (Treg) engineering is a first step toward an off-the-shelf treatment for T1D.
“Most of the cells of the immune system are focused on killing invasive elements,” Ferreira explains, “but Tregs are the generals of the immune system. They make sure that nothing goes overboard, and they train the immune system on how to respond in the future.”
Although further research is necessary, the promising results from lab trials mark a potential turning point in diabetes care. Dr. Ferreira is optimistic about using these engineered Tregs as “living drugs” and sees potential for this approach to extend beyond T1D to other autoimmune diseases and certain cancers.
This project exemplifies the cutting-edge research DRC champions, innovation with the potential to transform the future of T1D care.
Winkler highlights the impact of DRC’s work: “Ten of our researchers now have their own labs in part due to DRC’s support of their innovative projects. To date, DRC has funded 80 projects at a cost of over $4 million in seed funds, resulting in over $56 million in follow-on- funding – a 14.5x ROI!”
“By year-end we expect to have committed to fund an additional 20 T1D research projects across the nation for a total of 100 projects at a cost of $5 million. To the best of our knowledge, as of early 2025, DRC awarded more T1D research grants to early career scientists this year than the NIH or any other nonprofit.”
With NIH research grants being reduced or defunded, demand for DRC’s grants in 2025 are nearly three times the typical numbers received per year.
“We need your help,” emphasizes Winkler. “Donations remain our biggest limitation, and we can’t fund every promising early-stage T1D project that our experts carefully vet. Your support can change that—please join us in the fight to cure T1D by donating through our website.”
Explore more groundbreaking discoveries from DRC-funded scientists by visiting diabetesresearchconnection.org.
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