Islet and Stem Cell Innovation in Focus at DAC’s September Network Action Session
On September 25, 2025, Diabetes Action Canada (DAC) hosted its third Network Action Session, bringing together researchers, Patient Partners, community leaders, and trainees from across the country. These sessions are designed to spark conversation, share knowledge, and identify ways to move patient-oriented research in diabetes forward.
Spotlight on Islet and Stem Cell Therapy
A highlight of the session was a presentation by Dr. Peter Senior, who shared his expertise on the future of islet and stem cell therapy. While islet cell transplants offer the promise of eliminating the need for insulin in people with type 1 diabetes, challenges such as donor shortages and immune rejection remain. Dr. Senior underscored the importance of pairing scientific advances with the lived experiences of those directly impacted, reminding us that research must remain connected to patient priorities.
📺 Missed the session? Watch the full recording here
Featured Resources & Initiatives
- DAC 2024 Collaborators Report
Highlights include the Research to Action Fellowship, Diabetes Research Connect, research impact in Diabetic Retinopathy Screening (DRS) and Lower Limb Preservation (LLP), and the DAC Workshop.
👉 Read the report - New Article in Diabetologia
Linxi Mytkolli, DAC’s Director of Patient Engagement, is the lead author of “Diabetes in four dialects: a global call for equity across lived, loved, learned and laboured experiences,” introducing DAC’s 4Ls framework.
👉 Read the article - Sustaining Momentum to Implement the Diabetes Framework
Developed in partnership with Diabetes Canada and CIHR INMD, this report identifies future diabetes research priorities and emphasizes the need to embed equity, data/registries, community care, and knowledge mobilization tools into the work ahead.
👉 Read the Grey Paper - New Publications from DAC Researchers
- Type 2 Diabetes Remission: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Nonsurgical Randomized Controlled Trials (Lead: Dr. Diana Sherifali) 👉 Read more
- Automated Insulin Delivery Systems and Glucose Management in Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes (Lead: Dr. Jon McGavock) 👉 Read more
- Feasibility of a Co-designed Technology-enabled Collaborative Care Program for Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes and Diabetes Distress: A Protocol (Lead: Dr. Carly Whitmore) 👉 Read more
Welcoming a New Team Member
DAC is pleased to welcome Elise Kammerer as Project Lead for the Connect1d Canada platform. Based at the Alberta Diabetes Institute, Elise brings a strong background in implementation science, knowledge mobilization, and co-designing research with people with lived experience. Her work has focused on improving care for children with medical complexity and advancing equity in research and practice.
Upcoming Events
- DAC Breakfast at the Diabetes Canada Conference (for those already going to the conference)
🗓 November 27, 2025 | ⏰ 7:30 AM
👉 Register here - Next DAC Network Action Session
January 2026 (exact date and time TBD)
Stay Connected
✨ DAC thanks all members and partners who continue to make these sessions a space for learning, connection, and collective action. We look forward to building on this momentum in 2026.
Featured in Article
Associated Programs
Innovations in Type 1 Diabetes
Closed Loop Technolgies and the DIY Community
Episode three features an interview with Patient Partner Kate Farnsworth and Dr. Bruce Perkins about closed loop technologies and the DIY looping community.
Islet Biologists Embrace Patient-Oriented Research
Think Patient Partners can’t participate in discovery-level research? Think again!
Host Krista Lamb talks with Dr. Rob Screaton from the University of Toronto, Patient Partner Zoe Hilton and trainee scientist Cassie Locatelli. These three guests are working on a project incorporating Patient Partners into an islet biology training program.
