Redrow founder’s £50m research gift
THE founder of Flintshire-based house-builder Redrow has donated £50m to help cure type 1 diabetes.
The donation through the Steve Morgan Foundation is the largestever single gift in the UK for diabetes research.
Over five years, it will fund the SMF Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge, which will “cultivate collaboration” between researchers, scientific organisations and diabetes charities to “drive innovation and accelerate research breakthroughs worldwide”.
It will be led by Diabetes UK and JDRF UK.
The SMF Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge will focus on three key research areas:
Treatments to stop the immune system’s destruction of insulin-producing beta cells;
treatments to replace or rescue insulin-producing beta cells; and
novel insulins, for example, those that respond to changing blood sugar levels.
In a joint statement, Mr Morgan and his wife, Sally Toumi, said: “We’re so incredibly proud to announce this landmark partnership with Diabetes UK and JDRF UK.
“With the expertise of the two leading diabetes charities in the UK, and our shared ambition to improve the lives of people with type 1 diabetes, the SMF Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge will supercharge type 1 diabetes research, with the aim of having new treatments and ultimately a cure.
“We know from our own experience the impact that type 1 diabetes has on family life – it’s something we carry with us every day. But with research we can change that, and allow people with type 1 diabetes and their families to live without this relentless, lifelong condition.
“We want this ground-breaking partnership to inspire and motivate other funders to join in the shared ambition of the SMF Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge, paving the way for a better future for those living with type 1 diabetes and their families.”
Chris Askew, chief executive at Diabetes UK, added: “We’re delighted to launch this prestigious partnership with the Steve Morgan Foundation and JDRF UK. This unparalleled investment will change the course of type 1 diabetes research forever, galvanising the diabetes research community and accelerating us towards a cure that will change millions of lives not only in the UK, but worldwide.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Steve and Sally Morgan for their £50m investment and their commitment to transforming the lives of people with type 1 diabetes.
“This is a call to arms for the scientific community, and we look forward to working with JDRF UK to unite the brightest minds in type 1 diabetes research to fuel new breakthroughs, together. For the last 100 years insulin has been the only treatment for the condition, but this pivotal moment for type 1 diabetes marks the dawn of a new century of discovery.
“Type 1 diabetes is relentless, but so are we.”
Karen Addington, chief executive at JDRF UK, said: “This partnership, the UK’s largest-ever single philanthropic gift for type 1 diabetes research, will catalyse medical research in a way never done before. In this golden age of type 1 diabetes research, advances in immunotherapy and stem cell research have put us within touching distance of functional cures.
“JDRF was founded on the values and practice of collaboration, both in the UK and internationally, and together with the Steve Morgan Foundation and Diabetes UK, we will drive research further.”