Hon. Karen Sorensen: Honourable senators, incredible strides have been made in the quest to cure Type 1 diabetes.

You heard me correctly. I am not merely talking about management or prevention, but a potential cure that is within reach. As co-chair of the All-party Diabetes Caucus, I frequently meet with representatives of Breakthrough T1D to get updated on the progress being made on this file. It is very heartening.

That’s why I am pleased to speak today about the importance of continued federal support for this work.

Canada has long been responsible for cutting-edge research on Type 1 diabetes. However, we struggle when it comes to getting these discoveries to trial, as well as in manufacturing, regulating and delivering these life-changing therapies — all processes that are essential if we want to commercialize discoveries and avoid losing our best researchers. To capitalize on Canada’s progress, it is crucial that we build capacity in these areas.

That’s where Breakthrough T1D comes in. A public-private partnership, Breakthrough T1D facilitates coordinated trials, which not only enable faster progress and a higher likelihood of success but ensure Canada can reap the economic benefits of this research.

Breakthrough T1D has over 50 years of experience in this field, and with federal support, we have jointly supported more than 20 Canadian trials since 2009.

Continued investment in their work is essential, and I believe it will pay dividends — both economically for Canada and for the quality of life of the hundreds of thousands of Canadians who live with Type 1 diabetes.

It is my hope, and indeed my belief, that the T1D youth who have joined us today in the Senate will be cured in the not-too-distant future and that they and those who love them will live lives without constant glucose monitoring and insulin management.