Diabetes Action Canada (DAC) is delighted to announce a new collaboration with the CanScreen T1D Consortium, a national initiative dedicated to developing and implementing a type 1 diabetes (T1D) screening program across Canada.

Led by Dr. Diane Wherrett from The Hospital for Sick Children, CanScreen T1D is building a robust network to support clinical follow-up, intervention trials, and metabolic monitoring for individuals at risk of T1D. Through this partnership, DAC and CanScreen T1D will streamline processes, reducing duplication of effort and enhancing the impact of screening and follow-up care.

“Many DAC members are already actively involved in CanScreen T1D, so this agreement is an opportunity to share expertise. It strengthens our commitment to patient-oriented research, knowledge mobilization, Indigenous Peoples’ health, and innovative clinical care,” says DAC’s Executive Director, Tracy McQuire. “By formalizing this collaboration, we will foster greater knowledge exchange and coordination across these critical areas.”

Currently, Sasha Delorme, Patient Partner and Chair of DAC’s Indigenous Patient Circle, is leading efforts to understand the barriers and enablers to T1D screening in Indigenous communities. Her work is fostering culturally respectful engagement and collaboration with these communities. Dr. Holly Witteman, DAC’s Co-Lead for Patient Engagement, is contributing to the development of decision aids for T1D screening, while Dr. Peter Senior, DAC’s Co-Lead for Innovations in T1D, is working to build a strong T1D research community to support this initiative.

This partnership also presents new opportunities for DAC’s Connect1d Canada platform, which is dedicated to accelerating T1D clinical trials. Through Connect1d Canada, DAC aims to support the efforts of this collaboration by enhancing resources for patient-led research, facilitating community engagement, and supporting clinical trial recruitment.

“We are excited about the possibilities this collaboration brings and look forward to sharing updates as our work progresses,” says McQuire.

Learn more about CanScreen T1D.