Cure & Advancements/March 4, 2025/2 min read

Congresswoman with Type 1 Diabetes Advocates for Continued Research Funding

Rep. Kim Schrier, MD, the only current member of Congress living with Type 1 diabetes, highlighted the importance of sustained federal support for T1D research at a recent advocacy conference.

News report — unverified, pending corroboration

Evidence label explains the kind of source behind this article (for example peer-reviewed literature vs community video). It is not medical advice.

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Key takeaways

Rep. Kim Schrier, MD, a Democrat from Washington, is both a pediatrician and the first pediatrician elected to Congress, and she lives with Type 1 diabetes.
The Special Diabetes Program, created in 1997 with bipartisan support, has funded nearly every major Type 1 diabetes scientific advancement, including Tzield.
Tzield, a disease-modifying therapy, can delay the onset of Type 1 diabetes by up to three years—the first treatment of its kind.
Breakthrough T1D advocates are calling on Congress to renew the Special Diabetes Program and protect policies that will advance emerging treatments like artificial pancreas technology and beta cell replacement therapies.
The Special Diabetes Program represents long-term federal investment in diabetes research through the National Institutes of Health.

A Rare Voice in Congress

Rep. Kim Schrier, MD, represents Washington's Third Congressional District and holds a distinction few members of Congress can claim: she lives with Type 1 diabetes. As the first pediatrician elected to Congress, she brings both personal experience and medical expertise to conversations about diabetes care and research.

On March 4, 2025, Schrier addressed advocates at Breakthrough T1D's annual Government Day conference in Washington, D.C., speaking about the impact that federal research funding has had on her life and the lives of approximately 1.6 million other Americans with Type 1 diabetes.

The Special Diabetes Program's Track Record

Created in 1997 and renewed through bipartisan congressional support, the Special Diabetes Program represents a sustained commitment to diabetes research through the National Institutes of Health. According to Breakthrough T1D, this program has played a central role in driving nearly every significant scientific advancement in Type 1 diabetes over the past nearly three decades.

One landmark example is Tzield, a disease-modifying therapy that can delay the onset of Type 1 diabetes by up to three years. This was the first treatment of its kind to receive approval, marking a shift from managing symptoms to potentially changing the disease's course.

The Push for Continued Investment

At the Government Day conference, advocates called on Congress to renew the Special Diabetes Program and preserve the work being conducted at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration.

Beyond current treatments, researchers are developing promising new approaches, including artificial pancreas technology and beta cell replacement therapies. These advances depend on the kind of long-term federal funding that the Special Diabetes Program provides. Breakthrough T1D emphasized that protecting policies that support these emerging treatments will be critical as science moves forward.

Evidence label

Origin: breakthrought1d.org (News report). Evidence: News report — unverified, pending corroboration. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

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