With over 38 million Americans living with diabetes and the health, emotional, and financial burdens the disease inflicts on them and their families, research partnerships are essential to accelerate breakthrough discoveries that can transform lives.
In partnership with ScaleHealth and the American Diabetes Association ‘s Innovation Challenge, CHOC Research, part of Rady Children’s Health, recently designed a four-part mentor series program to provide challenge winners with feedback on their research and development plans and pediatric impact.
The collaboration aims to support and guide teams and companies to be better positioned scientifically, technically, clinically and financially to accelerate growth.
“ScaleHealth is an ecosystem that accelerates the impact of health innovation on a global scale,” said Kat Karimi, the company’s vice president of healthcare innovation. “We have partnered with the ADA to create a collaborative network to address diabetes’ most challenging questions by connecting researchers through personalized mentorship and building a collective expertise hub in diabetes research.”
Tackling complex questions
Nadine Afari, manager of research programs at CHOC, which also serves clinicians and innovators at UC Irvine and other institutions, said the partnership creates a comprehensive research environment for tackling complex pediatric diabetes questions.
“These research collaborations generate data and statistics that help us understand disease patterns, treatment effectiveness, and resource needs across diverse patient populations,” Nadine said.
Lois Sayrs, PhD, a research executive with over three decades of expertise in applied research design and methods, said accurate statistics inform governments, hospitals, startups, patients and advocates about the scope and burden of diabetes and thus help generate appropriate funding for research, treatment programs, specialized pediatric endocrinology services, and support systems for families.
“This data is essential for making evidence-based decisions about where to invest resources most effectively,” Lois said.
A revolutionary goal
The American Diabetes Association’s Innovation Challenge invites emerging companies in the field of diabetes research and care to pitch novel ideas to tackle everyday problems.
The ADA initiative has a revolutionary goal: to identify scientists at the peak of their creativity and provide them with the flexibility and resources they need to achieve breakthrough discoveries. The initiative’s three areas of focus include awarding research grants, providing access to scientific and career mentoring from leading diabetes researchers, and creating a diabetes think tank to cultivate the next generation of leaders whose discoveries finally will end diabetes and its burdens.
Meet the 2025 winners
Following a highly competitive review of more than 50 applications, three finalists emerged as leaders, bringing innovations that reimagine diabetes care and technology. The 2025 winners that represent groundbreaking innovation in diabetes are:
KiHealth, which detects disease earlier with the first portfolio of preventive diagnostics.
Mynerva, which is reducing diabetes-related neuropathic pain and falls through pleasant, noninvasive nerve stimulation.
Kayothera, technology developed at Princeton University, which is developing first-in-class therapies that target the retinoid nuclear receptor pathway for the treatment of diabetes and other metabolic diseases.
“We congratulate the 2025 American Diabetes Association Innovation Challenge winners,” said Dr. Terence Sanger, vice president and chief scientific officer at CHOC.
Also participating in the roundtable were Dr. Mark Daniels, division chief of endocrinology at CHOC, and Dr. Amrit Bhangoo, director of research in CHOC’s division of pediatric endocrinology.
Learn about pediatric research and clinical trials at CHOC
