Role of DRIFCan in the funding ecosystem
Diabetes Research Institute Foundation Canada Inc. (DRIFCan) is a Canadian charitable foundation created to accelerate cure-based research for type 1 diabetes. Established in 2005 to fund the pioneering Edmonton Protocol for islet transplantation, it continues to channel donor support directly to Dr. James Shapiro and his team at the Alberta Diabetes Institute at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
DRIFCan’s model is intentionally focused and streamlined: it donates roughly 90% of all funds raised to Shapiro’s laboratory and clinical programs. This funding supports work on islet transplantation, stem‑cell–derived islet cells, CRISPR gene–edited cell therapies, and immune‑protective strategies designed to restore natural insulin production without lifelong immunosuppression.
Funding approach and priorities
The foundation emphasizes fast, flexible access to research funding. It was created in response to the reality that traditional grants and institutional funding are often limited, slow, or heavily restricted. DRIFCan therefore provides undesignated or broadly focused research funds so that Dr. Shapiro’s team can respond quickly to emerging opportunities, scale promising lines of inquiry, and sustain first‑in‑human clinical trials.
Donations are raised through individual giving, online platforms such as CanadaHelps, third‑party fundraising events, and partner programs (e.g., corporate giving portals, vehicle and securities donation services). DRIFCan then consolidates these resources and transfers them to the University of Alberta research programs it supports.
Transparency and accountability
DRIFCan places strong emphasis on transparency and stewardship of donor funds. The organization publishes audited financial statements for multiple years on its website, allowing donors to see how resources are allocated. Its messaging stresses maximizing the share of contributions that goes directly to cure‑based diabetes research rather than administration.
Supported audiences and impact
The ultimate beneficiaries of DRIFCan’s funding are people living with type 1 diabetes in Canada and worldwide. By concentrating support on a globally recognized research team, the foundation helps advance innovative therapies from laboratory concepts to clinical application. Its work contributes to the broader international effort to make curative or disease‑modifying treatments for type 1 diabetes widely accessible.