"The collaboration between institutions is essential to accelerate the search for a cure for type 1 diabetes"
Karen Addington is the executive director of the JDRF in the United Kingdom, the most important profit non -profit organization in world diabetes attention.
The JDRF develops a tireless activity in numerous points of the planet to boost research, finance educational projects and, ultimately, to maximize the impact that the disease has on people, often children, who receive a diagnosis of this type.
Marathons, popular races, children's games, neighborhood collections ... Everything is going to finance research that will one day will result in the healing of type 1 diabetes. Its model has become a reference when looking for funds to carry out projects related to projectsresearch, treatments and patient quality of life.They are present in almost a dozen countries and have no intention of stopping, according to Addington.
What is the impact of type 1 diabetes in the United Kingdom population?
It is estimated that there are 400,000 people in the United Kingdom who live with type 1 diabetes and 29,000 of them are children.Our country has the fifth highest rate of this disease globally.To get an idea, the rate of type 1 diabetes in the United Kingdom is approximately twice than that of Spain.
Is the diagnostic-treatment-treatment of diabetes type 1 assistance well organized in the United Kingdom?
Unfortunately, the United Kingdom has a lot to learn from other nations.Late diagnosis is still too common.However, educational programs have recently been structured to train patients.We can say that finally the United Kingdom is starting to get along with these United and other European countries in which this approach is more entrenched.In any case, we still feel frustrated.Only 7% of the United Kingdom population with type 1 diabetes has access to an insulin pump;A very scarce percentage if we compare it with 15% of Germany and Norway and 40% of the United States.
What impact does diabetes 1 have on the school life of a student from the United Kingdom?
All British children with type 1 diabetes have the right, by law, to receive adequate support so that they can participate in complete school life.We are convinced and fight that they should not be deprived of any facet of their education.For my work I listen to a wide variety of parents' stories about their son's school experience with diabetes, since some schools offer excellent support to children with this disease.However, unfortunately positive experiences are not equal throughout the country.In fact, we receive news from children who are subject to discrimination at school when, for example, they are prevented from joining school trips because of their type 1 diabetes.
Does JDRF collaborate with other patient organizations?How?
We have worked very hard to ensure that JDRF continues to increase its collaboration routes, as we have done in recent years.It is important to emphasize that we collaborate with other associations in the financing of research carried out by institutions such as the Wellroom Trust and the British Heart Foundation.
We work in close collaboration with UK diabetes in the design and promotion of health policies and government campaigns.UK Diabetes is a charity that provides attention to people affected by diabetes, both type 1 and type 2. We also join forces with children with diabetes (CWD, its acronym in English), a group of patients from the kingdom of the kingdomUnited.Input Diabetes is another group with which we haveunited.It is focused on helping patients have access to technology related to diabetes control, such as insulin pumps.We collaborate intensely with these and other organizations to create and maintain a true community among all those that are affected by type 1 diabetes.
What kind of relationship does UK JDRF have with delegations from other countries?
JDRF in the United Kingdom enjoys excellent relations with JDRF in the United States and other JDRF affiliates around the world, such as in Canada, Australia and Denmark.For example, currently JDRF from the United Kingdom and Israel's JDRF are working with the British Council in the Birax program.This allows British scientists and Israeli universities to actively collaborate in the research of type 1 diabetes. These types of collaborations are very effective and guarantee much faster progress in the search for a cure for type 1 diabetes. In the RepublicFrom Ireland JDRF United Kingdom has an association with Ireland Research Alliance diabetes.We work together to promote research in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
What kind of activities are developed JDRF to finance research in type 1 diabetes?
The research program funded by the JDRF intends to treat, prevent and cure type 1 diabetes one day.We promote, investigate, evaluate and follow the least research in the world, regardless of where it is.We encourage industry and government to invest, along with us, in the investigation of type 1 diabetes. We and our followers raised funds in a wonderfully broad way.Our followers raise money for JDRF investigation organizing marathons and parties, carrying claiming bodies to the office and through a thousand other activities.
What is the research in which JDRF has more hopes?Because?
Healing type 1 diabetes requires restoring the function of healthy beta cells.Last year, a great advance was announced by the JDRF.A team of scientists from Harvard University managed to use embryonic stem cells to produce large amounts of beta cells of human insulin producers that were equivalent to the normal activity and functioning of beta cells.
However, before finding the healing of type 1 diabetes we can be very hopeful in some therapeutic improvements, such as an intelligent insulin that circulates through the body and is activated when necessary.This insulin could be injected once a day or even once a week.The initial research phase has shown that it is feasible in mice.Similarly, our research with encapsulated islets took an important step forward this year, when the first human being with type 1 diabetes there were encapsulated islets inserted in his body as part of a clinical trial.
We are also financing research to develop strategies to prevent disease before it manifests.This could include increasing beta cell survival through medication therapy or suppressing autoimmune attack by using a specific immune vaccine.There are many reasons to house hopes in this area.
What procedures do you carry out to improve the quality of life of patients with type 1 diabetes?
Our research program works to reduce the impact of type 1 diabetes on people's lives until we have the joy of finding a cure for this disease.JDRF leads the international effort so that the artificial pancreas becomes a reality;Cambridge group researchers in the United Kingdom are playing a fundamental role.The artificial pancreas would be adevice that supplies exactly the correct amount of insulin in the body, at the time it is necessary.
In which countries your organization is present?Have you thought about settling in Spain?
JDRF has offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Israel, the Netherlands and Denmark.The organization has no immediate plans to settle in Spain.However, we could certainly explore opportunities for collaboration with patient associations and research institutions in Spain.Type 1 diabetes continues to increase worldwide and JDRF continues to grow, so a broader international presence in the future is possible.
Source: Diabetesmadrid.org
