The Sanford Project - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Sanford Project?
The concept for the Sanford Project is to focus on a single, pressing healthcare issue and establish a world-class research team with the goal of finding a cure. Through an extensive selection process, Sanford Health has chosen to focus on curing type 1 diabetes, or juvenile diabetes, through beta cell regeneration.
What is type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes strikes children suddenly, makes them dependent on injected or pumped insulin for life and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. While diagnosis most often occurs in childhood and adolescence, it can and does strike adults as well. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. While the causes of this process are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved.
How will Sanford attempt to cure type 1 diabetes?
From its inception, the Sanford Project was “designed for results.” Sanford Health will combine clinical components of patient care and science into one of the most promising and fast-moving fields of research, regenerative medicine.
What is beta cell regeneration?
Regeneration research focuses on triggering the body to regrow the insulin-producing beta cells that have been destroyed by the autoimmune process. This is one of the newest and fastest-growing areas of research. Scientists hope to either spur the body to copy existing functioning beta cells or to coax the pancreas to create new ones. When people with the disease have regenerated beta cells, they can begin making their own insulin again.
Why was type 1 diabetes chosen as the Sanford Project?
Through a detailed and unique selection process, Sanford Health outlined criteria for a viable candidate idea for the Sanford Project. The chosen disease demonstrated (1) a specific approach to advance new treatments for a disease, (2) a high likelihood of success within a designated time frame, and (3) an appropriate and suitable scope to be carried out at Sanford Health. Curing type 1 diabetes through beta cell regeneration best fit these criteria.
Describe the process that lead to Sanford Health’s decision to choose type 1 diabetes.
Based on these criteria, Sanford Health leaders identified four candidate ideas (type 1 diabetes, lupus, pediatric multiple sclerosis and human papillomavirus) for further evaluation by a prestigious 13-member Advisory Council of national experts. These experts were selected for their broad and applicable knowledge in health research, disease and translational medicine.
At the Advisory Council meeting on April 17, 2008, leading national experts representing each of the “final four” candidate ideas presented the details of each opportunity and the approach for advancing progress in research. The Advisory Council deliberated on each candidate idea and presented its guidance and recommendations. Based on these recommendations, the Sanford Health Board of Trustees made its final selection in late April.
Why is Sanford Health confident it picked the correct disease for the Sanford Project?
The detailed process outlined by Battelle Memorial Institute included specific selection criteria. That selection criteria included the development of research infrastructure that will be applicable to any variety of other research topics that Sanford will grow in the future. In addition, because of the economic development in this region, there is not an incorrect choice among the four final candidate ideas. Any discovery in the autoimmune system will also lead to advancements in a variety of other disease areas.
How will the Sanford Project be funded?
Sanford has committed to funding the project with approximately $30 million over the course of the next five to seven years. Through federal and other private grant-funding sources, Sanford will seek to establish research efforts totaling more than $100 million each year. As exemplified by the organization’s current total funding of more than $8 million, $7.4 million is derived from external grant funding. Of that, $6 million comes directly from the National Institutes of Health.
Who will lead the Sanford Project?
Sanford Health is currently recruiting a variety of primary investigators and their associated teams of scientists to establish a center for diabetes research in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Beyond the research personnel that will be recruited to the area, Sanford Health will continue to identify MD/PhD staff to expand current clinical resources for diabetic patients in the area. Sanford will have a variety of research, clinical and technology partners to establish the infrastructure necessary to develop an all-encompassing and world-class research center.
Clinically, Sanford will also continue to develop patient education resources as it further develops its comprehensive diabetes program.
Where will research for the Sanford Project be done?
Sanford will continue to develop necessary infrastructure for both clinicians and research scientists on the main Sanford USD Medical Center Campus and the planned Sanford Research Park.
The Sanford Research Park is a 185-acre planned development located at the southern entrance to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It is located at the intersection of Interstate 29 and the Interstate 229 business loop that cuts through Sioux Falls. When complete, the park may include over 6,000 people working within its boundaries and be the focal point of adjacent growth and development.
How will the Burnham Institute for Medical Research be involved in the Sanford Project?
In collaboration with the Burnham Institute for Medical Research, Sanford has developed the Sanford Children’s Health Research Center with locations on Burnham’s main campus in La Jolla, California and in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. With a total of six primary investigators and associated staff, the joint project will continue to include some degree of diabetes-specific research chaired by Fred Levine, MD, PhD.
How will the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation be involved in the Sanford Project?
Sanford Health will be partnering with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, the world’s largest charitable funder of research leading to a cure for type 1 diabetes, in the recruitment and review of regeneration-related research.
Who is Sanford Health?
Sanford Health’s comprehensive, integrated system includes nearly 370 physicians in 115 clinics, 23 hospitals, 13 nursing homes, 17 assisted living facilities and congregate living locations, 27 home health services and 19 pharmacies. With approximately 12,000 employees, Sanford Health is the largest employer in the region. Its primary 500-bed nonprofit tertiary care hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, serves an average of more than 30,000 inpatients annually. With more than a million outpatient visits each year, Sanford Health has served the 80,000 square mile, four-state region of South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska for over 110 years. Sanford Health is the largest healthcare system between Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and Denver, CO. Its divisions include Sanford USD Medical Center, Sanford Clinic, Sanford Health Network, Sanford Health Plan and Sanford Health Foundation.
What is the Sanford Project?
The concept for the Sanford Project is to focus on a single, pressing healthcare issue and establish a world-class research team with the goal of finding a cure. Through an extensive selection process, Sanford Health has chosen to focus on curing type 1 diabetes, or juvenile diabetes, through beta cell regeneration.
What are the details of this $10 million gift from Todd & Linda Broin?
Todd and Linda Broin of Sioux Falls, SD are making a $10 million gift to fund the Chair of the Sanford Project. The ultimate purpose of this gift is to support the individual who will lead the research effort to cure type 1 diabetes.
Why did Todd & Linda Broin make this gift to fund the Chair of the Sanford Project?
Todd and Linda Broin believe the Sanford Project will produce a cure to benefit the three million people who suffer from type 1 diabetes. This family understands the importance of recruiting and supporting a lead researcher to achieve this accomplishment.
How will this gift support?
The $10 million gift will establish the Todd and Linda Broin Chair of the Sanford Project. The gift will support the salary and other related research projects and expenses of the director of the Sanford Project.
How will this money be used?
Up to 50 percent will help support the salary and related expenses of the Chair of the Sanford Project. The second 50 percent will be used at the discretion of the Chair for special needs related to his or her work including equipment, side projects and technology.
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