# Breakthrough T1D

Breakthrough T1D is an Endowment / Foundation based in New York, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** New York, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 200 Vesey Street 28th Floor, New York, NY 10281, United States
- **Founded:** 1970
- **Assets under management:** 335 (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** www.jdrf.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/breakthrought1d

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Breakthrough T1D originated in 1970 as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Aaron Kowalski serves as CEO while Lisa F. Wallack chairs the international board. The entity functions as a global nonprofit that channels donor capital exclusively into Type 1 diabetes cure research and related advocacy. The foundation allocates across private equity and venture holdings through the T1D Fund established in 2016. Confirmed positions include Sernova Corp, Glooko, Aspect Biosystems, Encellin, DiogenX, Egle Therapeutics, and Inversago Pharma. Public equity exposure covers Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and SAB Biotherapeutics following acquisitions of earlier portfolio companies. Geographic reach centers on North America with additional activity in Canada, France, and the United Kingdom. Capital deploys via direct company investments and strategic partnerships rather than fund commitments. The organization reports 335 million USD in disclosed assets. It maintains a New York headquarters, a London office, short-term operating reserves of 178 million USD, and a cryptocurrency donation portfolio custodied by The Giving Block. The T1D Fund operates from Boston. March 2025 marked sponsorship of the Breakthrough T1D Community Summit in Union, New Jersey, covering research, mental health, and technology topics. Service providers include Ernst & Young as auditor and JPMorgan Chase as commercial bank. Breakthrough T1D separates its grant-making foundation from the T1D Fund equity vehicle to accommodate both philanthropic distributions and venture returns. Co-investors such as the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust and the Bukhman Foundation participate alongside the entity in selected research initiatives. This dual structure allows the organization to retain corporate partners including Vertex Pharmaceuticals while directing proceeds back into additional cure-focused programs.

## Sectors

- Healthcare
- Biotechnology

## Offices

- London, United Kingdom

## People

- Aaron Kowalski — CEO
- Lisa F. Wallack — Chair of the International Board of Directors

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Breakthrough T1D?

Aaron Kowalski serves as CEO and oversees overall direction. The T1D Fund executes equity investments while the foundation board approves major allocations. Lisa F. Wallack chairs the international board.

### Does Breakthrough T1D participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

The T1D Fund focuses on direct equity investments in early-stage biotechnology companies. No fund-of-funds commitments appear in the disclosed holdings.

### What investment stages does Breakthrough T1D typically target?

The T1D Fund targets startup and operating businesses in biotechnology and digital health. Several holdings reached exit through acquisition by larger pharmaceutical firms.

### Which sectors does Breakthrough T1D explicitly prioritize?

The organization directs capital toward Type 1 diabetes cure research, cell therapy platforms, and related digital health tools. Holdings cluster in biotechnology with secondary exposure to pharmaceuticals.

### How is Breakthrough T1D related to the T1D Fund?

The T1D Fund operates as the venture philanthropy arm of Breakthrough T1D. It executes equity investments while the parent foundation handles grant distributions and advocacy.

### Where does Breakthrough T1D maintain offices?

Headquarters sit at 200 Vesey Street in New York. A regional office operates in London at 28 Harbour Exchange Square.

### Does Breakthrough T1D accept non-traditional donations?

The foundation accepts cryptocurrency donations in BTC, ETH, and USDC. The Giving Block provides custody and liquidation services for these assets.

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/breakthrough-t1d

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