Breakthrough T1D UK

What Breakthrough T1D UK does

Breakthrough T1D UK (legally Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Limited) is a UK-registered charity, founded circa 1970 and rebranded from JDRF in 2024, dedicated to curing, treating, and preventing type 1 diabetes. The organization funds more than 400 active research studies across 21 countries and serves a UK population of approximately 400,000 people living with T1D. It is headquartered in London with a regional office in Scotland, governed by a board chaired by Phil Aird-Mash and led by Chief Executive Karen Addington MBE, and operates with approximately 83 employees.

The organization's core product is its research-funding program, complemented by a portfolio of free beneficiary services: a Resource Hub, Free Information Packs, the KIDSAC pediatric resource, a Schools E-Learning Module, the Type 1 Toolkit, the Type 1 Discovery Magazine, and the DiaDigits Calculator. It also advocates for NHS access to advanced therapies, with documented influence on NICE approvals for teplizumab (Tzield) and hybrid closed loop technology for pregnancy populations, and highlights research outputs such as the Tegoprubart immunosuppressive trial and CamAPS FX automated insulin delivery.

Revenue is generated through diversified, small-ticket channels: individual donations and regular giving, a weekly Unity Lottery (£1/week per entry, maximum prize £25,000, Tower Hamlets license 188329), corporate partnerships and sponsorships, mass-participation fundraising events (London Marathon, Great North Run, Cardiff Half Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Sydney Marathon, London to Brighton Cycle Ride, York 10K, virtual Sit Up Challenge), and merchandise sales. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the website, social channels (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), email, and event-driven community outreach, with parallel distribution of clinical resources to healthcare professionals and educational institutions.

Name

Breakthrough T1D UK

Legal name

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Limited

Website

https://breakthrought1d.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Breakthrough T1D UK is a charity (formerly JDRF) funding type 1 diabetes research across 21 countries and providing free support resources to approximately 400,000 people with T1D in the UK, funded by donations, a weekly lottery, events, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Type 1 Diabetes Medical Research Charity

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Disease-Specific Global Programs (HIV/TB/Malaria/NTDs) (HLAJAKAF)

Keywords

• Type 1 diabetes research
• Diabetes charity funding
• Medical research charity
• Diabetes support services
• Health advocacy nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, regular giving, and funds raised through events and challenges. Includes lottery proceeds where minimum 50% goes to supporting the organization's work.
2. Breakthrough T1D Lottery: Weekly lottery with prizes up to £25,000. Players pay £1 per week for a unique six-digit lottery number. Winners match 3-6 digits in sequence. Odds of winning are 1 in 63.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Partnerships with corporate entities for event sponsorship and fundraising support.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Breakthrough T1D branded merchandise through the online shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Breakthrough T1D UK is a charitable organization that funds world-class international research to cure, treat, and prevent type 1 diabetes, supporting over 400 active research studies across 21 countries. It provides free support resources (information packs, e-learning, the Resource Hub), runs a weekly lottery and fundraising events, sells branded merchandise, and advocates for patient access to treatments and screening programs in the UK.

Product overview

Breakthrough T1D UK (formerly JDRF) is a charitable organization focused on funding research to cure, treat, and prevent type 1 diabetes. The organization offers a portfolio of support services including free information resources (Resource Hub, Type 1 Toolkit, KIDSAC for children, Free Information Packs), educational tools (Schools E-Learning Module), publications (Type 1 Discovery Magazine, DiaDigits Calculator), and fundraising products/events (Lottery, Sit Up Challenge, running/cycle events). The core mission is delivered through funding over 400 active research studies globally in 21 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Breakthrough T1D Lottery
• Research Funding Program
• Resource Hub
• Free Information Packs and Type 1 Toolkit
• KIDSAC
• Schools E-Learning Module
• Type 1 Discovery Magazine
• DiaDigits Calculator
• Sit Up Challenge
• Fundraising Materials
• Breakthrough T1D Shop

Quantifiable outcome

• 41,534 support resources distributed to people with type 1 and healthcare professionals in 2023

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Skyline EventsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganizers of the London to Brighton Cycle Ride. Skyline has over 30 years of experience raising over £150 million for charity events. Partners with Breakthrough T1D for cycling challenge event logistics.
• JustGivingcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial fundraising platform provider for TCS Sydney Marathon and other events. Provides secure online donation processing with all funds going directly to Breakthrough T1D.
• Unity LotterycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLottery platform operator for Breakthrough T1D's weekly lottery. Handles Random Number Generator selection every Friday. Licensed with Tower Hamlets (License No: 188329).
• Fundraising RegulatorcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUK fundraising regulator that ensures charities meet high standards in fundraising practices. Breakthrough T1D is registered and adheres to all their standards.
• Institute of Fundraising (IoF)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional body for UK fundraisers. Breakthrough T1D is a member and follows the IoF's fundraising code of conduct.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Diabetes UK: The UK's largest diabetes charity, covering type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Directly competes with Breakthrough T1D UK for UK individual donors, corporate partnerships, and event participation, though Diabetes UK's mission is broader (all diabetes types).
• JDRF International (Breakthrough T1D US): The US parent/affiliate of the global Breakthrough T1D network (formerly JDRF). Directly comparable as a T1D-only research and advocacy charity, with overlapping research programs and shared global research funding footprint across 21 countries.
• Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation: UK-based charity funding diabetes research and providing wellness support. Direct competitor in the UK donor and research-grant space, though with a broader (all-types) diabetes remit.

Broad incumbents

• International Diabetes Federation: Global umbrella organization for national diabetes associations across 170+ countries. Comparable as a global diabetes-policy and advocacy body, with overlapping research-advocacy positioning but a much broader (all-types) scope.
• American Diabetes Association: The largest US diabetes nonprofit, covering all diabetes types. Comparable in scale and mission overlap with Breakthrough T1D UK but operating across a broader disease scope and larger geography; a US regional incumbent rather than a T1D specialist.
• The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust: US-based private foundation with a major Type 1 Diabetes program funding global research, including co-funding with JDRF/Breakthrough T1D. Comparable as a T1D research funder, but operating from a foundation-grantmaking model rather than public donations.

Emerging players

• Beyond Type 1: A newer US-based T1D nonprofit focused on education, community programs, and grants. Comparable as a T1D-only mission charity, but with a stronger digital/community bent and smaller research-funding footprint than Breakthrough T1D UK.
• T1D Exchange: US-based nonprofit operating a T1D clinical research network and real-world data platform. Comparable as a T1D-focused research charity, but distinct in being a data/clinical-network operator rather than a broad community-fundraising organization.
• Insulin For Life: Australia-based nonprofit providing insulin and diabetes supplies to underserved T1D populations globally. Comparable as a T1D-focused charity operating internationally, but distinct in its supply-distribution model rather than research-funding.

Regional players

• Diabetes UK Care Events / DRWF Wellness: UK-focused diabetes wellness and education charities providing patient support similar to Breakthrough T1D UK's resource hub and Schools E-Learning Module.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BT1DUK
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BreakthroughT1DUK
• Facebookfacebook.com/BreakthroughT1DUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/breakthrought1duk
• Instagraminstagram.com/breakthrought1duk

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Breakthrough T1D UK