Breakthrough T1d Uk (juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Limited)

Charity Number: 295716

Annual Expenditure: £6.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £6,000,000 (research grants)
  • Success Rate: 30%
  • Decision Time: 12 weeks
  • Grant Range: £20,000 - £30,000 (Small Grant Awards)
  • Geographic Focus: UK (part of international network)
  • Global Investment: £2 billion invested worldwide to date
  • Active Projects: 400+ research projects globally, ~20 in the UK

Contact Details

Website: www.breakthrought1d.org.uk

Email: info@breakthrought1d.org.uk

Phone: 020 7713 2030 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm)

For Researchers:

  • Application support: preawardsupport@breakthrought1d.org
  • Research communications: researchcommunications@breakthrought1d.org.uk
  • Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge: smfgrandchallenge@breakthrought1d.org.uk

Offices: London and Scotland (part of international network of affiliates)

Overview

Breakthrough T1D UK (charity number 295716), formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), rebranded in October 2024 to better reflect its mission to help people of all ages with type 1 diabetes. Founded as part of a global network, the organization describes itself as “the leading charitable funder of type 1 diabetes research worldwide.”

With over £2 billion invested globally in research to date, Breakthrough T1D UK currently funds more than 400 research projects and 19 clinical trials across 21 countries. The charity's mission is to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to treat, prevent, and ultimately cure type 1 diabetes and its complications. The organization works closely with the international Breakthrough T1D network and maintains partnerships with major funders including the Steve Morgan Foundation and the Medical Research Council (MRC). In 2022, they helped launch the £50 million Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge, the largest ever single philanthropic gift in type 1 diabetes research in the UK.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grant Awards (£20,000 - £30,000, rolling applications)

  • Basic research projects: up to £20,000 for maximum 12 months
  • Clinical research studies: up to £30,000 for maximum 12 months
  • Annual competitive process open to UK-based early career researchers
  • Applications reviewed by Scientific Advisory Council
  • Four projects typically funded per year

Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge (Partnership with Steve Morgan Foundation and Diabetes UK)

  • Major grants ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of pounds
  • Focus on beta cell replacement/rescue and novel insulin development
  • £2.7 million awarded to six projects for novel insulins in 2024
  • Over 30 cell therapy grants activated in 2024 alone
  • Specific calls announced throughout the year

MRC Clinical Training Fellowships (Partnership with Medical Research Council)

  • Three-year funding for salary and project costs
  • For registered diabetes healthcare professionals
  • Supports PhD/MD degrees or research skill reacquisition
  • Application window: October-January (next: 22 Oct 2025 - 14 Jan 2026)

International Breakthrough T1D Funding Opportunities

  • Various programs available to UK researchers
  • Innovative Awards: one year, up to $200,000 (including 10% indirect costs)
  • Strategic Research Agreements and other larger grant mechanisms
  • Applications via RMS360 system

Priority Areas

Four Strategic Research Areas:

  1. Autoimmune Therapies: Halting immune system attack on beta cells
  2. Cell Therapies: Replacing lost insulin-producing cells (Project ACT initiative)
  3. Prevention of Complications: Addressing long-term health impacts
  4. Glucose Control: Improving insulin therapy and diabetes management

Specific Focus Areas:

  • Early detection of type 1 diabetes
  • Beta cell replacement therapies using AI/machine learning
  • Cell therapy engraftment technologies
  • Prevention research (stopping immune attack before or after onset)
  • Novel insulin development and improved insulin therapy
  • Immune system mechanisms in autoimmune disease
  • Diabetic wound healing and hypoglycemia prevention

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, Breakthrough T1D's focus is exclusively on type 1 diabetes research. Research must:

  • Be directly relevant to their research strategy to improve lives and cure type 1 diabetes
  • Align with their overall strategic priorities
  • Consider the views and needs of individuals living with type 1 diabetes
  • For Small Grants: be carried out in the UK
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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive: Karen Addington (appointed 2005)

Karen Addington stated: “JDRF was founded upon a culture of innovation, progress, ambition and collaboration, and Breakthrough T1D will continue to break research boundaries in accelerating the prevention, treatment and cure for type 1 diabetes.”

Chief Scientific Officer: Dr. Sanjoy Dutta

Dr. Dutta has emphasized that research priorities “remain focused on finding ways to prevent, treat and cure type 1 diabetes.” He has stated: “The development of cell therapies that replace the loss of insulin-producing cells could one day offer cures for type 1 diabetes” and “Early detection of type 1 diabetes is a priority for Breakthrough T1D.”

Director of Research Partnerships: Rachel Connor

Rachel Connor noted: “Our research is accelerating real change for people living with T1D, and breakthroughs are transforming daily life with this condition.”

Board of Directors: The organization is governed by a Board of Directors who serve as trustees. All board directors give their time free of charge and receive no remuneration. The board meets at least five times per year. Recent appointments include Nadia Swann and Sarah Johnson as Board Directors, with Wilson Leech promoted to Vice Chair.

Scientific Advisory Council (SAC): A group of 15 people including lived experience members with personal connection to type 1 diabetes, healthcare professionals, researchers, and research-active clinicians. The SAC provides expert, independent scientific, clinical, and lay support, reviewing Small Grant Award applications and validating research decisions and position statements.

How to Apply to Breakthrough T1d Uk (juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Limited)

How to Apply

RMS360 Research Management System: All applications are submitted through Breakthrough T1D's electronic application system, RMS360.

  1. Register for an RMS360 account at the Breakthrough T1D website
  2. Click 'Apply Now' under the 'Funding Opportunities' section
  3. Select the appropriate funding stream
  4. Complete the online application form

Pre-Application Support: For application difficulties or questions, contact preawardsupport@breakthrought1d.org

Small Grant Awards: Applications accepted on a rolling basis with annual competitive review cycles

Other Programs: Check individual Request for Applications (RFA) documents for specific deadlines and requirements

Decision Timeline

Small Grant Awards: Approximately 12 weeks from submission to decision (30% success rate)

Typical Review Process Timeline:

  1. Admin Check (initial stage): Scientific and administrative staff ensure application is complete, meets requirements, and aligns with strategy
  2. Stage 1 (external review): Core Program Teams (CPT) and external reviewers assess scientific validity, technical feasibility, innovation, and timescale
  3. Stage 2 (internal review): Cure/Improving Lives senior management team prioritizes projects based on therapeutic potential and strategic alignment
  4. Stage 3 (final decision): Smaller budget projects decided by Chief Scientific Officer; larger projects decided by executive research committee of International Board of Directors

Notification Methods: Applicants notified via RMS360 system according to published timelines

Example Timeline: For some international programs, decisions may be made within 1-2 months of deadline (e.g., March 31 deadline with May decision notification)

Success Rates

Small Grant Awards: Approximately 30% success rate based on available data

  • Four projects typically funded per year from competitive pool
  • Both clinical and basic research given equal priority

Overall: More than 400 active research studies funded globally, demonstrating significant grant-making capacity

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies are not publicly detailed. For information about reapplying after an unsuccessful application, applicants should:

  • Contact preawardsupport@breakthrought1d.org
  • Call 020 7713 2030 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm)
  • Review the RMS360 Pre-award and Post-award FAQs

Upon request, Breakthrough T1D can provide feedback at the admin check stage on whether an application has progressed.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment is Critical:

Breakthrough T1D always considers “the quality and relevance of the proposed research to people with type 1” when making funding decisions. Applications must be directly relevant to their research strategy to improve lives and cure type 1 diabetes.

Innovation and Risk-Taking Encouraged:

The organization actively encourages researchers to “submit innovative, high-risk/high-reward, field-changing research proposals to accelerate their mission.” Proposals should address key outstanding questions and have the potential to challenge current paradigms or lead to groundbreaking discoveries.

Assessment Criteria:

External reviewers and Core Program Teams assess proposals based on:

  • Scientific validity: Robust methodology and sound scientific approach
  • Technical feasibility: Realistic and achievable within proposed timeframe
  • Innovation: Novel approaches and field-changing potential
  • Timescale: Appropriate timeline for objectives
  • Significance: Potential impact on type 1 diabetes treatments
  • Relevance: Direct benefit to people living with type 1 diabetes
  • Gap-filling: Addresses critical gaps in understanding of the condition

For Small Grant Awards Specifically:

Excellence in proposals that:

  • Support development of early career researchers
  • Support new research or innovation with clear impact pathway
  • Have potential to deliver significant contribution to understanding or management of type 1 diabetes
  • Lead to further research or clinical practice change
  • Gather critical data for larger follow-on funding
  • Take into consideration views and needs of individuals living with type 1 diabetes
  • Benefit the widest range of people living with type 1 diabetes
  • Include collaborative research to enhance potential success

Therapy Development Focus:

The Cure/Improving Lives senior management team prioritizes “projects that can be developed into real therapies fastest” during Stage 2 review, demonstrating a strong preference for translational research with clear pathway to clinical impact.

Community Engagement:

Research must consider how it will benefit people living with type 1 diabetes and incorporate their perspectives. The Scientific Advisory Council includes lived experience members who provide input on relevance and impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Mission alignment is paramount: Every application must demonstrate direct relevance to preventing, treating, or curing type 1 diabetes and show clear benefit to people living with the condition
  • Think big and innovative: Breakthrough T1D explicitly welcomes high-risk/high-reward proposals that could change paradigms—don't shy away from ambitious ideas if they're scientifically sound
  • Consider the translational pathway: Applications that clearly articulate how research will lead to therapies, clinical practice changes, or larger follow-on studies are prioritized
  • UK Small Grants are for early career researchers: If you're an established researcher, consider the larger international funding opportunities or partnership programs instead
  • Use RMS360 early: Register for the system well before deadlines and contact preawardsupport@breakthrought1d.org if you need guidance on application requirements
  • Leverage partnerships: Collaborative research is preferred for Small Grants, and the organization has major partnerships (Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge, MRC) that may offer larger funding opportunities
  • Show patient benefit clearly: With lived experience members on the Scientific Advisory Council, demonstrating how your research addresses real needs of people with type 1 diabetes strengthens applications significantly

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