In the Cure vs Prevention post, we had a bit of a discussion regarding what constitutes research focused purely on vaccines for prevention in contrast to research that has the goal of both preventing and curing type 1 diabetes in people who already have the disease.
To clarify the JDCA’s position again: We are neither against preventing diabetes, nor against conducting research that has a specific goal both of curing and preventing – though a cure must certainly be a part of the equation.
One such project that Karmel from A Sweet Life shared that might encompass both is Countdown, which is explained on the JDRF website: http://countdown.jdrf.org/road-to-a-diabetes-vaccine-part-one/
The website dates back to March 2011, so it is not breaking news, but seems exciting nonetheless. Of course, it is mostly theory at this point, but a vaccine that can reset the immune system and cure diabetes is certainly something that the JDCA would advocate for.
What we are against is money donated for the search for a cure being used on research that is focused exclusively on prevention and where a cure is not a main goal, but at most a hope that it might result as a by-product of prevention efforts.
As complicated as diabetes is as a disease, we need to always have concrete goals and outlines in mind. General vague research has not led us too far in the past 90 years.
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