JDRF Cure Goals
Finding a cure for diabetes is like getting through a maze: You follow the path as directly as you can, but sometimes you hit dead ends and unexpected turns. JDRF realizes this, so to help get there, it has created several "maps" that show the steps that must happen along the route to a cure.

It's a complicated process, to be sure! To give you an idea how complicated, take a look at just one pathway from each of the three goal areas, described here.

JDRF Cure Goal Area 1: Achieving Normal Blood Sugar Levels

One pathway: "Prevent islet cell destruction"
This means that the cells that produce insulin would not be attacked by the body.

Steps that scientists must achieve:

• Understand how beta cells are attacked by other cells
• Develop ways to prevent this
• Test these methods
• Make the new treatment available to patients
  
  Goal: Achieve "euglycemia," or normal blood sugar levels

One pathway: "Block factors that could harm body"
This means stopping the damage that diabetes can sometimes cause.

Steps that scientists must achieve:

• Identify genes that are involved
• Understand how complications occur*
• Develop ways to stop or reverse them*
• Test these methods*
• Make the new treatments available to patients
  
  Goal: Treat complications

* Dr. Ann Marie Schmidt's research focuses on these steps of the pathway

JDRF Cure Goal Area 3: Preventing New Cases of Diabetes from Developing
One pathway: "Preserve islet cell mass"
Once your body begins to attack its own beta cells, it continues until you have diabetes. But not if it can be stopped!

Steps that scientists must achieve:

• Identify genes of risk for diabetes and genes that protect from diabetes
• Identify things that may begin the body's attack on its own beta cells
• Understand how the immune system is activated
• Develop ways to stop the cell attack in people at high risk
• Test the new therapies
• Make the new therapies available to everyone
  
  Goal: Preserve islet cells so diabetes does not develop