Sansum Diabetes Research Institute

What Sansum Diabetes Research Institute does

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute (SDRI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit diabetes research and care organization founded in 1944 by Dr. William Sansum — the first U.S. physician to manufacture and administer insulin in 1922 — and headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. SDRI operates four integrated pillars: clinical research, clinical care, education and outreach, and community health programs. It conducts 25+ clinical research studies annually (sensor accuracy, automated insulin delivery, pharmaceuticals, novel diabetes devices) with 700–1,000 research participants per year, and serves as the preferred pivotal clinical site for major industry partners including Abbott, Dexcom, Insulet, Eli Lilly, Mannkind, Medtronic Diabetes, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Tandem Diabetes Care. The institute's clinical care programs cover pediatric and adult Type 1 diabetes, diabetes in pregnancy (gestational, T1D, T2D), early-stage T1D screening, and the Screen & Support program offering free T1D autoantibody screening with access to Teplizumab (Tzield) prevention therapy.

The organization's research footprint includes pioneering work on the first U.S. patent for an automated glucose control algorithm (with UCSB), the pregnancy-specific closed-loop algorithm via the LOIS-P Diabetes in Pregnancy Consortium (with Harvard, Mayo Clinic, Mount Sinai), and pivotal roles in FDA clearances of the Dexcom G7 CGM, Medtronic closed-loop technology, Tandem Basal-IQ/Control-IQ, and Insulet Omnipod 5. Education and outreach programs include the OneTalk and LADATalk support groups, Spanish-language programs (Ocho Pasos, Semillas de Cambio, Grupo de Apoyo), and the Returning to School with Diabetes Town Hall reaching nearly 5,000 people since 2020. Bilingual community health workers serve the Latino population in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, where 30% of 2023 research participants were from underrepresented populations.

SDRI's revenue model is a hybrid of donations and charitable contributions, industry-sponsored clinical trial contracts, government grants (including a four-year USDA Farming for Life grant), and fundraising events (Taste of the Vine raised $508,000 in 2025). The institute maintains 4-star Charity Navigator and Platinum Candid Seal of Transparency ratings. Recent leadership changes include the December 2025 appointment of Dr. Andrew Rhinehart (former Medtronic Diabetes Senior Medical Director) as CEO and Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, and addition of Dr. Francine Kaufman as Principal-Scientific and Medical Affairs advisor. SDRI is in the process of renovating an 18,000 square-foot state-of-the-art research facility.

Name

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute

Legal name

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute

Website

https://sansum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1944 that integrates clinical research, clinical care, education, and community health programs to improve outcomes for people impacted by diabetes, primarily serving T1D, T2D, and diabetes-in-pregnancy patients in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diabetes Research and Clinical Care

NAICS

Health Care and Social Assistance (62), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Diabetes (General) (HLAKADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) / Closed-Loop Systems (HLAHAHAF), Diabetes Digital Therapeutics & Dose Decision Support (Bolus Calculators) (HLAHAHAJ), Type 1 Diabetes Care (HLAKADAB), Diabetes Education & Insulin Management (Home-Based) (HSABACAJ)

Keywords

• Diabetes clinical research
• Diabetes clinical care
• Diabetes patient education
• Clinical trial services
• Community health programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Barbara

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a nonprofit organization, SDRI relies primarily on tax-deductible donations from individuals, families, and organizations. They accept one-time gifts, monthly gifts, annual gifts, memorial donations, tribute donations, and planned gifts.
2. Clinical Research Funding: Industry-sponsored clinical trials from pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. Partners include Abbott, Dexcom, Insulet, Lilly, Mannkind, Medtronic Diabetes, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Tandem Diabetes Care.
3. Government Grants: Research grants from government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support specific research initiatives like the Farming for Life program.
4. Fundraising Events: Annual signature fundraising event 'Taste of the Vine' held at Santa Barbara Historical Museum, raising funds through ticket sales, auctions, and sponsorships. The 2025 event raised $508,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute is a nonprofit organization that conducts clinical research on diabetes treatments, devices, and technologies, and delivers integrated clinical care, patient education, and community health programs to individuals and families impacted by diabetes. It operates free T1D screening clinics, runs investigator-initiated research on diabetes in pregnancy and automated insulin delivery, and serves as a preferred clinical trial site for pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

Product overview

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute operates as a diabetes research and care organization structured around four core pillars: clinical research, clinical care, education & outreach, and community health programs. The organization offers a portfolio of integrated programs including Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Programs, Diabetes & Pregnancy Programs, Screen & Support early detection services, and clinical research studies. Patient-facing programs include OneTalk support groups, LADATalk, Family Outreach Events, and the Ocho Pasos and Semillas de Cambio Spanish-language education programs. The institute serves as an industry-preferred clinical research partner conducting trials in diabetes technology, pharmaceutical development, and medical devices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Type 1 Diabetes Programs Comprehensive support programs for individuals and families living with type 1 diabetes, including education, support groups, and access to the latest diabetes technology including insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors.
• Type 2 Diabetes Programs Community-based diabetes education and support programs including Spanish-language offerings, focused on healthier daily living and long-term wellness for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
• Diabetes & Pregnancy Programs Research and care programs focused on healthier outcomes for mothers and babies affected by diabetes, including gestational diabetes management and pregnancy-specific closed-loop insulin delivery.
• Screen & Support (T1D Screening) Free walk-in screening clinic offering blood tests for T1D autoantibodies, personalized risk reports, and access to FDA-approved therapies like Teplizumab (Tzield) that may delay onset by up to 2 years or more.
• Clinical Research Studies Industry-preferred clinical trial site conducting 25+ research studies annually engaging approximately 700-1,000 participants each year in diabetes technology, pharmaceuticals, and device development.
• Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Care Clinical care and education program for children and families living with type 1 diabetes, featuring accessibility of providers, one-on-one appointments with endocrinologists and certified diabetes educators.
• Adult Type 1 Diabetes Care Clinical care program for adults living with type 1 diabetes incorporating latest technology in treatment including closed-loop insulin delivery systems.
• Ocho Pasos Spanish-language diabetes self-management education program covering healthy eating, meal planning, monitoring, medications, and identification of risk factors over an 8-week series.
• Semillas de Cambio Spanish-language education series for women with gestational diabetes, providing a safe learning environment and tools to reduce risks for GDM-related complications during pregnancy and postpartum.
• Community Health Workers Program Bilingual community health workers bridging gaps in healthcare access and education, providing culturally competent care and supporting self-management practices for Latino communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free screening can delay T1D onset by up to 4 years (median) with Teplizumab therapy
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• AbbottcoreTechnology or IntegrationIndustry partner for clinical trials. Abbott develops continuous glucose monitoring technology and diabetes care solutions.
• DexcomcoreTechnology or IntegrationSDRI served as pivotal clinical research site for Dexcom G7 CGM FDA clearance. Ongoing collaboration on CGM device development and accuracy studies.
• InsuletcoreTechnology or IntegrationSDRI enrolled first patient in Omnipod Automated Glucose Control System study and played pivotal role in FDA clearance of Omnipod 5 AID system.
• Eli LillycoreTechnology or IntegrationIndustry partner for clinical trials including studies on once-weekly basal insulin and GLP-1 inhibitors.
• MannkindcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner for Afrezza inhaled insulin clinical trials.
• Medtronic DiabetescoreTechnology or IntegrationSDRI served as clinical site for trials of Medtronic's closed-loop technology. Dr. Rhinehart previously served as Senior Medical Director at Medtronic.
• Novo NordiskcoreTechnology or IntegrationIndustry partner for clinical trials including fast-acting insulin FiAsp studies.
• SanoficoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner for comparison studies between Sanofi's drugs Toujeo and Lantus. Partnership for Screen and Treat program for T1D early detection.
• Tandem Diabetes CarecoreTechnology or IntegrationSDRI played key role in pivotal trials for Tandem's Basal-IQ and Control-IQ technologies for automated insulin delivery.
• Breakthrough T1DcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Screen and Treat Program providing free T1D autoantibody screening and access to emerging prevention options for families.
• Harvard UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in LOIS-P Diabetes in Pregnancy Consortium for pregnancy-specific closed-loop system studies.
• Mayo ClinicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in LOIS-P Diabetes in Pregnancy Consortium for pregnancy-specific closed-loop system studies.
• Mount SinaimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in LOIS-P Diabetes in Pregnancy Consortium for pregnancy-specific closed-loop system studies.
• University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with UCSB to secure the first U.S. patent for an algorithm essential to automated glucose control in Artificial Pancreas systems.
• Rooted Santa Barbara CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered in production of culturally tailored, plant-based nutrition curriculum available in English and Spanish to improve health equity.
• Santa Barbara County Health DepartmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners to ensure underrepresented Latina women receive superior care for pregnancy complicated by diabetes.
• March of DimesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining institution for community health workers at SDRI.
• University of Southern CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining institution for community health workers at SDRI.
• Visión y CompromisominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining institution for community health workers at SDRI.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Dexcom: Continuous glucose monitor manufacturer for which SDRI ran pivotal trials for G7 FDA clearance. Ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, but a deeply intertwined commercialization partner.
• Medtronic Diabetes: One of SDRI's largest industry sponsors and former employer of the current SDRI CEO. Not a peer in business model, but a key ecosystem participant whose AID pipeline directly shapes SDRI's research revenue.

Emerging players

• JDRF / Breakthrough T1D: Global T1D advocacy and research funding organization. While a funder rather than a clinic, JDRF is a direct collaborator with SDRI through the Screen and Treat program and competes for the same donor and research-grant dollars.
• T1D Exchange: Nonprofit operating one of the largest T1D real-world evidence platforms and clinical research networks. Comparable as a research-enabling nonprofit that recruits trial participants and partners with device manufacturers in the same CGM/AID ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes: University of Colorado-affiliated pediatric and adult diabetes center running high-volume clinical care and industry-sponsored trials. Like SDRI, it serves as a preferred site for CGM/AID pivotal studies and provides free community screenings.
• Joslin Diabetes Center: Harvard-affiliated diabetes research and clinical care center. Comparable as an integrated nonprofit combining specialty clinical care, research, and education across T1D/T2D, with deep industry sponsor relationships and longstanding patient volumes.
• Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center: Columbia University-affiliated diabetes center combining clinical care, research, and education for T1D/T2D across the lifespan. Closely analogous as a nonprofit academic hybrid center with industry-sponsored clinical trials and bilingual outreach.
• International Diabetes Center (Park Nicollet): Health-system affiliated diabetes research and care center known for pioneering AID/closed-loop algorithm work and DCCT trial contributions. Comparable as a hybrid clinical-research operation running industry trials while maintaining clinical care and provider education.
• Diabetes Research Institute (University of Miami): University of Miami Miller School of Medicine-affiliated institute focused on diabetes cure research and bio-artificial pancreas development. Comparable as a nonprofit research entity embedded in academic medicine with industry-funded trials and clinical care.

Regional players

• Stanford Diabetes Research Center: Stanford-affiliated academic research center running investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored T1D trials in Northern California. Comparable in mission but with an academic rather than community-clinic operating model and located in a different regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sansumdiabetes
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5eYi0IFvefHYlbNheG6szg
• Facebookfacebook.com/sansumdiabetes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sansum-diabetes-research-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/sansum_diabetes_research_inst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sansum Diabetes Research Institute