Dr. Patrick MacDonald
Redefining the Type 2 Diabetes Landscape
Dr. Patrick MacDonald studies the pancreas and how it controls insulin. His lab uses the ADI IsletCore, a major source of human pancreas tissue, to examine how differences in insulin production affect diabetes risk.
The Strategic Value of Bridge Funding
In the world of high-level science, the difference between a project moving forward and a lab shutting down is often a fraction of a percentage point. Dr. Patrick MacDonald, a professor at the University of Alberta and lead researcher at the Alberta Diabetes Institute, submitted a highly-ranked proposal to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
The goal was profound: to uncover why some people develop Type 2 diabetes while others—even those with similar risk factors—do not.
Despite praise from international reviewers, the project fell just short of the funding cutoff.
“In many cases, the idea might just die on the vine (...) You may lose momentum or lose people working on a project, and then it becomes very hard to continue.”
ADF Bridge Funding
Recognizing the project’s immense potential for Albertans living with Type 2 diabetes, the Alberta Diabetes Foundation (ADF) stepped in with a $40,000 bridge grant. A strategic investment that allowed the team to:
Strengthen Evidence: Develop a specialized research model to answer key scientific questions.
Manage Data: Enhance their ability to process the massive volumes of data generated by islet research.
Retain Talent: Keep the brightest minds in the lab working toward the next competition.
The Result:
Nearly $1,000,000 in Federal (CIHR) Funding Secured. Every $1 donated to the bridge fund unlocked $25 in national investment.
“Cracking” the Cellular Code
Dr. Patrick MacDonald’s research focuses on the pancreas and how it regulates insulin. Specifically, his lab utilizes the ADI IsletCore(one of the world’s largest sources of human pancreas research tissue) to study how variation in insulin production contributes to diabetes risk.
By studying these islets, the team is building a "map" of why some cells fail and others remain resilient. This foundational knowledge is the key to precision medicine: treatments tailored to an individual’s specific genetic and environmental risks.
Accelerating Breakthroughs:
Successful funding acts as a catalyst; by increasing researchers capacity to train and hire, it creates compounding benefits across the entire initiative.
New Talent: The funding has already enabled the hiring of a new postdoctoral fellow.
Accelerated Discovery: More hands in the lab means more experiments, leading to faster results for people waiting for better care.
The “ADF Bridge Funding” did more than just buy time, it created growth.
Investing in Innovative Research
“When donors see that $40,000 can help unlock $1,000,000 million, they understand how their support truly multiplies.”
