Jeffrey Brewer is the newest president of the JDRF — following several rapid turn-overs over the past five years since the departure of Peter Van Etten. This change in leadership coincides with a dramatic shift in JDRF’s policies on the programs and research it funds, focusing not only on the cure, but also on new technologies, like the Artificial Pancreas, and research on treating complications.
Jeffrey first announced this change in a groundbreaking interview with diaTribe in January, and followed up with talks with bloggers at JDRF’s Government Day and Roche’s Diabetes Social Media Summit. Some may say this is a welcomed and realistic shift, but to others, it may represent a disappointing deviation from JDRF’s core mission: to find a cure for diabetes. Today we’re thrilled to present a guest post from Jeffrey Brewer, who shares his goals, and the reasons behind them, for JDRF during his tenure.
A Guest Post by Jeffrey Brewer, CEO of JDRF
Jeffrey Brewer and his family
When I reflect on the past six months here at JDRF — just as we enter a new fiscal year — I see clear signs of growth and progress for the organization. JDRF is in the midst of an exciting and necessary transformation, standing on the shoulders of 40 years of progress. It is our unwavering commitment to people with type 1 diabetes that inspires this transformation, as we strategically lay the groundwork for an even stronger organization.
My own dedication to JDRF and to people with diabetes stems from my personal ties to this disease. In 2002, my son Sean was diagnosed with type 1 at the age of seven. I’m sure many of you can relate to the way a type 1 diagnosis shakes a family’s world on every level. I became involved with JDRF as a volunteer and donor for many years, because I saw the unmatched passion of its people and the unique ability the organization has to make a difference in the lives of people with type 1 diabetes.
I believe JDRF will lead us to a cure, and along the way, will help people live better and healthier lives at every age and at every stage of the disease. We are committed to transforming lives, and to do that, JDRF must transform as well. That’s where we are now, and I’m eager to share with you some of what that entails.
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JDRF has identified three key elements of growth that we will strive toward: fighting diabetes on all levels — curing, treating, and preventing the disease; broadening our efforts to reach every person with type 1 diabetes — children and adults alike; and translating research into therapies that will reach people with the disease.
Curing, treating, and preventing type 1 diabetes
For more than 40 years, JDRF has been leading the fight to cure type 1 diabetes. The fight continues today. But now we are even stronger, armed with more knowledge and better tools. We also realize that it’s important to keep people living with type 1 diabetes healthier today as we work toward a cure — to keep them safe from devastating complications. At the same time, we want to explore ways to possibly prevent or delay the onset of type 1 diabetes in people who are genetically at-risk or on the way to developing the disease. With so many areas of research into this disease, it is important to keep in mind that they are all related. For example, the more we know about how to treat type 1, the more we will know about preventing and curing it. Most importantly, JDRF wants to fight type 1 diabetes for the people who must live with it every day — and we must be armed on all fronts.
With bloggers at JDRF Government Day
Broadening our reach
A type 1 diagnosis can happen at any age, a toddler or a grown adult. In fact, of the 30,000 new cases of type 1 every year, half are children and teens, and half are adults. JDRF has long been known for its efforts on behalf of children — and that will not change — but we need to broaden our reach to the adults with type 1, who represent 85 percent of all those living with the disease. JDRF today has important resources available to help adults. That said, we need to do a better job of expanding those resources, and taking more efforts to spread word of our pool of support and information — from new adult type 1 toolkits we are creating to our type 1 online community Juvenation, for example. And speaking of the type 1 community, I am confident in and thankful for all of you who make up the vast and invaluable Diabetes Online Community, of which Juvenation is a part. The DOC keeps alive the spirit of strength, support, and resilience that is so important in this fight. It’s a spirit that all of us at JDRF are steadfast in maintaining together with you. The more people with type 1 diabetes who are on JDRF’s team, the stronger we will be for everyone with this disease. And that’s who we’re fighting for.
Translating research into therapies
Finally, we have to have a solid way of defining success in order to reach our goals. JDRF is defining success as the point at which advances reach patients. We will also help insurance companies understand why a therapy should be reimbursed and made available to patients, and help doctors understand which therapy will be best for each patient at their particular stage of type 1 diabetes. We will do everything in our power to turn research into tangible benefits for people with type 1.
Our transformation is only beginning, and we know it will take a lot of effort, cooperation, perseverance, and patience from everyone at JDRF and from the people for whom we work hard. My confidence in JDRF is firm and based on the unwavering passion I’ve seen in its people, the strong community it nurtures and leads, and its ability to transform lives. As a father of a child with type 1, and as CEO of JDRF, I’m excited about what lies ahead for this organization because it means better, healthier lives for people with type 1 diabetes. Thank you all for your continued support.
Thanks for all your hard work, Jeffrey! We happen to agree that a broader scope in JDRF’s work is the right thing for all of us.
Readers: What say you about the JDRF’s new direction?
We’re still less than a year post diagnosis with a 4-year-old type 1, and I’m very happy to hear about JDRF reaching out to adults, because I feel that we’re all sharing the same challenges. And, kids have a lot to learn from adults. Personally, I’m anti adult stem cell research, so it was harder for me to support JDRF when I thought it was just about research. (Though, I’m in favor of other areas of research, ie adult stem cell.) So, with this broadening, I see more JDRF that I like.
Our 12 year old was diagnosed almost 3 years ago. I’m very excited about the direction of JRDF. I realize that I’m a layperson, and have no scientific training, but I can’t help but think that there has to be a more accurate way of monitoring blood glucose levels and treating appropriately. Imagine if a heart patient had to check their blood pressure 10 times a day, and take meds based on the reading?
As a person without diabetes, I sometimes feel these tools are really random number generators in disguise….we count carbs, dose insuling based on blood glucose reading and activity level, and still have a BG number a few hours later that’s too high or too low.
I’d be happy with an implantable BG monitor (think cgm), and faster acting/faster fading insulin. Let’s improve the quality of life for the people living with diabetes.
Oh, and while I’m on a rant, what can we do about the confusion between what Type 1 and Type 2 are. We had an editorial in our paper about the rise in diabetes, and how diet and exercise can cause/prevent it, blah blah blah. I write in each time I see these articles, asking for the writer to please clarify whether they’re writing about Type 1 or Type 2, only to pick up another magazine/paper and see it all over again!
Thanks!
Cindy
[...] by JDRF Bay Area on 08/18/2011 ShareJeffrey Brewer, JDRF’s President & CEO, published this post in DiabetesMine.com. Read the entire post here. [...]
I’m happy to see the JDRF start to advocate for adults as well, because no one knows when the cure will be found, and meanwhile children do grow up!
I too love the direction that JDRF is going with Jeffrey Brewer at the helm. I as much as anyone want a cure for my 5 year old that has had this disease for nearly 4 years. In the meantime, I strongly believe that outreach is key for surviving. Diabetes is as much of an emotional disease as a physical one and in order to make it through, some days you need people to lean on. I love that Mr. Brewer points out the DOC as we are a strong and passionate group. I, along with many others, want to see that same connection of online support locally in our communities. As I mentioned on #dsma last night Online is quick in the moment, but offline connection is personal and a shoulder to cry on. I would do anything to make the IRL (in real life) connection more available to anyone that is in need of support. I am extremely passionate about outreach and connecting newly diagnosed and those who have had it for years together. We can learn so much not only from parent to parent but from PWD to PoCWD.
I think Jeffrey Brewer is helping to take JDRF in a better direction, in a smarter way. The only thing I would correct about what he says is the bit about “of the 30,000 new cases of type 1 every year, half are children and teens, and half are adults.” In fact, that information comes from the CDC’s “Diabetes in America,” and Mr. Brewer left off that the “Diabetes in America” states that an “unknown number” have slow-onset Type 1 diabetes (often called LADA or latent autoimmune diabetes in adults). Slow-onset Type 1s, usually adults, are largely ignored and misdiagnosed.
I’m thrilled with this article for several reasons. For one, I think Jeffrey Brewer is on the right track in terms of outreach and research. Secondly, he is beginning to see the benefit of support through outreach and the DOC. I think Juvenation is a wonderful idea, but I see many ways to improve it. I’d like to see local chapters and JDRF staffers encompass the DOC in a better way. The word “blog” is a misleading word and can be scary, but when properly overseen, a blog can make tremendous strides in a person’s life. I have so many ideas for JDRF and its outreach programs, but there is not enough space here. I think JDRF desperately needs to find a way to make personal connections on local levels. The mentor program is a fantastic start. An annual walk and bike ride is not enough. There needs to be more local and personal face-to-face interactions. If JDRF wants support, they have to provide it, too. Having a shoulder to lean on during a tough day or having a person to hug on a celebratory day are tremendous. Having those options needs to be a regular, re-occurring thing across the country. It’s what makes the DOC so successful! The DOC has shown the validity of personal connections and human stories.
I am a member of the JDRF Northwest Chapter and I met Jeffrey earlier this year. I too agree with the general direction he is taking the organization. We have to keep our eyes on the prize (a cure) but even the best of predictions put that years away. If we can alleviate the daily trauma my daughter (14) endures in the meantime, I am all for it. Better methods of testing, integrated CGM, smart insulin, etc.–they reduce the burden while we look for a cure. I appreciate that JDRF is giving more attention to adults with T1 (the vast majority) and I am very encouraged that JDRF is focusing on accelerating the process to get drugs and technology out of the lab quicker. I would also note that it is easy for an organization like the JDRF to have “mission creep” and start spending increased energy on “support” activities–because of the need for such activities. However, JDRF is a lean organization and will only be successful with a narrow and clear set of priorities—such as the ones Mr. Brewer laid out. Focus on a cure. Better treatment in the meantime. And do what we can to prevent more children being born with the disease.
Thank you for the continued dialogue Jeffrey, I very much appreciate it.
I am encouraged by the direction / goals Jeffrey has set – I’m the ‘kid’ – now 61 years old – diabetes since a toddler. I wouldn’t be here without Dad’s like jeffery -[my Dad was one of them]. The fact re my continued survival is neither luck nor hard work – it’s primarily common sense. As Natalie stated – ‘children grow up’. The need to look for more patient friendly / fiscally accessable tools is so important – and the knowledge re identifying and then treating alleged complications early is something those of us still around know beyond a shadow of a doubt is most important. With that in mind, I can’t stress enough how important it is to keep all the healthcare personnel in a diabetic’s life up to date – through assertively funding research/access. Thanks to Jeffrey for taking on this position – from a Canadian Whittier.
I think that the JDRF is a fantastic organization. I am an advocate. And I think that Jeffrey Brewer is a great guy with good intentions. But I would still like to see most of the emphasis on a biological cure. The artificial pancreas makes sense on paper, but I don’t see it as a step that will lead to a cure.