Tag Archives: JDRF Research Summit

Researchers Agree: The Status Quo Is Not Acceptable; We Need More Clinical Trial Participants To Drive Progress

1 Reply

BETHESDA, MD — Imagine my surprise and excitement when a leading Type 1 diabetes researcher, Dr. Desmond Schatz of the University of Florida, unofficially promoted our “We R The Cure” blog site during the recent JDRF Type 1 Diabetes Research Summit on Feb. 18. Let’s roll the audio tape:

JDRF Type 1 Research Summit

Juan Dominguez-Bendala, Ph. D, of the Diabetes Research Institute, opened the JDRF Summit with a keynote presentation on "The Hope and Promise of Stem Cells and Cell Therapies." Photo courtesy of JDRF Capitol Chapter.

“We do not have enough people participating in research studies,” Dr. Schatz told several hundred Type 1D enthusiasts in his opening statements. “My goal is to give you hope, to inspire hope, and to push you to get involved. Without U, there can be no cure.” Almost on cue, an outburst of applause came from the adjacent ballroom where young children with Type 1 diabetes were playing and having fun while their parents attended the JDRF Summit.

Dr. Schatz heard the applause and laughed. “I am here to make it clear, that the status quo (in Type 1 research) is unacceptable!” And again, the children cheered right on cue.

Dr. Schatz and his audience enjoyed the perfect timing, and I cheered, too.  I could not believe my “good fortune.”  I knew the JDRF Summit would be a unique opportunity for education and dialogue with prominent researchers in the Type 1 diabetes field. I also knew it would be a great chance to talk with friends and allies gathered in Bethesda. However, I was NOT expecting to get a free endorsement for “We R The Cure” from one of the researchers! (Of course, I’m joking. For the record — I did not pay him; However, I did thank Dr. Schatz later for pushing for more trial participants).

In the coming days, we’ll post some specific comments and follow up observations from what we learned at the Summit. In the meantime, here’s a link to all of the Summit presentations — without any edits — from the amazing professionals and lay people who spoke at the Summit.

A special thanks to Summit Presenting Sponsor, Johnson & Johnson, and the Capitol Chapter of JDRF for putting together such an amazing and educational event for us. Thank You!  Read more about the Summit from the Diabetes Online Community (DOC) on Twitter, using #jdrfsummit.

Behind The Scenes Of A Closed Loop AP Clinical Trial; Guest Blogger Abby Bayer Shares Her Personal Story

Leave a reply

Abby Bayer and I have never met, but we have a lot in common. We’re both PWDs, DOCs and T1Ds. Say what?

Abby Bayer smiles during her Closed Loop AP clinical trial in Boston last December.

As I enter my second month as the “CEO and Chief-Bottle-Washer” at We R the Cure.com, I am now a new member of the Diabetes Online Community (DOC), basically a growing family of advocates and social media amateurs who blog, share personal stories and strive to help themselves and other PWDs ( Persons With Diabetes) — not MWDs (Mice With Diabetes). In the DOC, connecting with fellow T1Ds who are traveling the same “highs and lows” road is the “Glue-cose” that holds us all together. Forgive me, I couldn’t resist the corny joke.

Anyhow, back to my new friend, Abby. She recently blogged a two-part series on her participation in an Artificial Pancreas Closed Loop Clinical Trial in Boston. Abby is a Cure Seeker. She is giving her time, her talent and — her blood — in search of real solutions. That’s why I started this blog — to showcase the Cure Seekers and report on the human clinical trials that need more humans, according to Dr. Desmond Schatz, Medical Director of the Diabetes Center of Excellence at the University of Florida.  Together, We R the Cure, but we need more trial participants like Abby.

Read Abby’s two-part story on the SixUntilMe blog. You Rock Abby!

Editor’s Note: My sincere thanks and appreciation go to Abby and Kerri Morrone Sparling, the founder/editor of SixUntilMe — the amazingly awesome blog for Type 1Ds and the people who know us and love us. Thanks for giving me permission to share SUM editorial content on my blog!  Ironically, Abby and I were both diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1998.

Next Post — We R the Cure bloggers will report on the news coming from the JDRF Research Summit held Feb. 18 in Bethesda, MD. Here’s a hint: Dr. Schatz wants to cure humans with T1D not just mice.