Grant initiative

Sanofi is committed to advancing human health and transforming the lives of people living with chronic conditions—especially those impacted by type 1 diabetes (T1D). 
With decades of innovation in insulin therapies, delivery technologies, and digital health solutions, Sanofi plays a central role in improving outcomes for people managing this lifelong disease. Our work in diabetes is built on a deep legacy of scientific discovery and support for the healthcare professionals and researchers working at the frontlines of diabetes care.

But progress demands collaboration. Through the T1D Innovation Grant Program, we aim to support independent investigators exploring new frontiers in T1D research. Whether focused on novel pathways of autoimmunity in T1D, new approaches to early detection, biomarker strategies, or innovations driven by artificial intelligence/machine learning, we believe that empowering the scientific community will help us create a better future for individuals living with or at risk of developing T1D.

T1D is a chronic autoimmune condition that imposes a lifelong burden on affected individuals, impacting their physical, psychosocial, and socioeconomic well-being.^1-3 The progressive destruction of insulin-producing beta cells and consequent insulin deficiency can result in severe acute complications like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is common at diagnosis and can have life-threatening acute and long-term consequences, including brain changes and increased morbidity and mortality.^4-6 

An estimated 8.42 million people were living with autoimmune T1D worldwide in 2021, a number predicted to increase to 13.5–17.4 million by 2040.⁷

Despite significant progress in T1D research and management, many critical questions remain unanswered. There is an urgent unmet need for early identification of individuals at the pre-symptomatic stage of T1D, or at high risk of T1D to reduce the incidence of DKA at diagnosis. Such early identification allows for (i) early follow-up and education, and/or (ii) early treatment, or (iii) participation in a clinical study assessing new therapeutic agents.^8,9 

This includes developing more effective strategies, potentially based on identifying new pathways, that could lead to novel therapeutic agents and/or improve T1D management, including in early stages, to improve long-term outcomes and overall well-being. The T1D Innovation Grant Program will support research that directly addresses these pressing unmet needs, ultimately aiming at improving the lives and well-being of people with T1D.