Breakthrough T1D Canada Calls on Federal Government to Invest in Canada's World-Leading Regenerative Medicine Research in Upcoming Budget

Breakthrough T1D Canada, Canada’s largest type 1 diabetes organization, has called on the federal government to invest $62 million over five years in the Breakthrough T1D Network for Canada (BTNC). The network would accelerate cures for T1D by aligning researchers, clinicians, hospitals, industry, and the diabetes community under a national strategy. Canada’s world-leading expertise in regenerative medicine, diabetes, and transplantation makes it uniquely positioned to lead, but the lack of a coordinated approach risks losing ground in clinical trials and economic opportunities. The BTNC proposal follows a formal pre-budget submission, arguing that federal investment would unlock a total of $100 million, with Breakthrough T1D Canada contributing $25 million and industry/research institutions adding $13 million. This would create a dollar-for-dollar match, doubling the impact of federal funding. Over five years, the initiative is projected to generate $575 million in economic value, create 120 high-skilled jobs, and double the number of T1D trials testing curative therapies. Type 1 diabetes, a chronic autoimmune condition with no current cure, affects 300,000 Canadians and requires lifelong management with serious health risks. Breakthrough T1D Canada’s President and CEO, Jessica Diniz, emphasized that Canada’s scientific momentum—including multiple cell-based therapies in or near clinical trials—could lead to curative breakthroughs if supported by federal leadership. The network would address coordination gaps, enabling faster integration of clinic trials and commercialization of discoveries. Federal investment could also accelerate a T1D cure by five years, preventing billions in future healthcare spending while advancing therapies for cancer, rare diseases, and organ repair. The submission highlights Canada’s historical role in diabetes research, including the discovery of insulin, and stresses the urgency of national infrastructure to compete globally in regenerative medicine.