Message from Norman Rosenblum, INMD Scientific Director
November 2021

November marks Diabetes Awareness Month in Canada and across the globe, and this year is special because it is the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin. The discovery of insulin 100 years ago was a break-through that transformed the treatment of diabetes forever and is one of the greatest Canadian research discoveries. This month we are celebrating Canada’s international leadership in diabetes research and reflecting on the impact of scientific discoveries on the lives of Canadians living with diabetes. Canadian researchers continue to build on the legacy of the discovery of insulin by making tremendous progress towards diabetes prevention and treatment.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, a new research initiative 100 Years of Insulin: Accelerating Canadian Discoveries to Defeat Diabetes was launched under the leadership of CIHR-INMD, as well as the Institutes of Genetics (IG), Indigenous Peoples’ Health (IIPH), and Infection and Immunity (III), in collaboration with many other CIHR institutes and with national and international partners. This initiative provides research funding for Canadian scientists to participate in new research teams to accelerate diabetes research.

This month, I am pleased to be participating in the announcement of ten new Team Grants in Diabetes Mechanisms and Translational Solutions at the Diabetes Canada/Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (CSEM) Professional Conference. These team grants will bring together outstanding multi-disciplinary research teams from across Canada to study the underlying causes and pathophysiology of diabetes and develop improved prevention and treatment approaches. I am grateful for the collaboration and support of other CIHR institutes, and the support of our partners: Diabetes Canada, Fonds de recherche du Québec–Santé (FRQS), JDRF Canada, and Kidney Foundation of Canada. This represents the largest component of the 100 Years of Insulin initiative, and I am excited and inspired by the breadth of new research that these outstanding teams will tackle. 

Over the past year, I have also announced the results of other components of the 100 Years of Insulin initiative, including a new partnership between CIHR and UK research funders to fund six world-leading collaborative UK-Canada Diabetes Research Teams. We also announced the results of two other competitions as part of this initiative: a new research consortium that will enable leading researchers in Canada and the Netherlands to tackle type 2 diabetes - Netherlands-Canada Type 2 Diabetes Research Consortium Team Grant, and new funding for research teams to accelerate stem cell-based therapies for the treatment of type 1 diabetes in collaboration with JDRF Canada - CIHR-JDRF – Accelerating Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Type 1 Diabetes Team Grant.

The 100 Years of Insulin initiative is also supporting Indigenous-led and community-driven research that aims to reverse the increase in diabetes and associated complications among First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. We have launched new funding for Team Grants in Diabetes Prevention and Treatment in Indigenous Communities: Resilience and Wellness.

In addition to funding opportunities, CIHR-INMD and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) co-hosted a joint virtual symposium entitled Heterogeneity of Diabetes: Beta Cells, Phenotypes and Precision Medicine. The full symposium video recording is now available and provides insights into the future of diabetes research, and the proceedings of the symposium have been released in the journals Diabetes Care and the Canadian Journal of Diabetes.

Finally, I would invite you to visit our website to read about current Canadian diabetes research efforts and the areas where leading Canadian researchers see opportunities to drive innovation to help improve health outcomes for people living with diabetes. You can also read the Faces of Health Research profiles featuring recently funded researchers through the 100 Years of Insulin initiative.

I am extremely grateful to individuals living with diabetes who participate in studies and for the support of institute colleagues at CIHR who have contributed to the development and implementation of these exciting research funding opportunities and activities. I am also appreciative of our partner organizations, such as Diabetes Canada, Fonds de recherche du Québec–Santé (FRQS), JDRF Canada, Kidney Foundation of Canada and Mitacs, and our international partners.

The increasing prevalence of diabetes in Canada and the negative effects of COVID-19 on people living with diabetes have underscored the importance of continuing to invest in diabetes research, treatment, and prevention, and ultimately, to discover a cure for diabetes.

Dr. Norman Rosenblum, MD, FRCPC, FCAHS
Scientific Director
CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes

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