More than Half of People with Type 1 Diabetes Expect a Cure in the Next Decade
New York, NY (PRWEB) March 06, 2014 -- More than half of people who have type 1 diabetes or have a family member or close friend with the disease expect a cure to be found in the next 10 years, according to a semi-annual survey conducted by the Juvenile Diabetes Cure Alliance.
The findings, outlined in a new report from the JDCA, show that 57 percent of people in the type 1 diabetes community think a cure will be discovered in the next decade. Another 30 percent expect a cure in the next 25 years.
However, research from the JDCA has found that the current research pipeline likely won’t deliver on those expectations unless there is a shift in prioritization. The nonprofit donor advocacy organization has identified only six type 1 diabetes research projects out of the 332 currently in human clinical trials that have the potential to deliver a cure by 2025.
The survey also found that only 50 percent of diabetes donors feel informed about how their gifts are being used. Phil Shaw, general manager of the JDCA, said charities and researchers aren’t keeping the diabetes community adequately informed about cure progress.
“The survey identifies an opportunity for diabetes charities to better communicate with donors about the impacts of their gifts,” Shaw said. “People with type 1 diabetes think a cure will be found in the next decade, which means diabetes foundations should align their research with those expectations.”
When asked to choose between a “practical cure” that would allow people with diabetes to live a normal life with the disease in the next 15 years or an “idealized cure” that would completely eliminate the disease in 50 years or more, 83 percent of survey respondents said they prefer the more immediate solution. Despite this, JDCA research has found that only 2 percent of donations currently go toward practical cure projects.
In order to align donor expectations with progress toward a cure, Shaw said nonprofits and research centers need to focus on near-term projects and ensure that they are full funded and fully resourced.
“Diabetes charities have a responsibility to donors to shift funding toward projects that will deliver a cure in our lifetime,” Shaw said. “They should prioritize research based on the likelihood of finding a cure for people currently living with diabetes, not future generations.”
The JDCA’s third survey of the diabetes community polled 251 U.S. adults who either have type 1 diabetes or have a family member or close friend with the disease. To download a copy of the survey report and additional JDCA research, visit the JDCA reports page.
About the JDCA
The JDCA is an independent analyst of the type 1 diabetes charitable universe and brings a business-like perspective to help donors focus research toward a practical cure. The mission of the JDCA is to achieve a type 1 practical cure before 2025 by steering donor contributions to the most effective charities.
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Kikora Mason, Walker Sands Communications, +1 (312) 648-6009, [email protected]
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