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Frequently Asked Questions

Curing Type 1 Diabetes through Beta Cell Regeneration





What is The Sanford Project?

The Sanford Project is one of the four initiatives made possible through Denny Sanford’s transformational gift to Sanford Health in 2007. 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. Their goal is to research and cure juvenile diabetes, all in pursuit of a healthy future for our children.


Who will lead The Sanford Project?

A research team assembled from around the globe will lead Sanford Health’s efforts to cure type 1 diabetes through The Sanford Project; Paul Burn, PhD, Broin Chair, Alexander Rabinovitch, MD, Associate Director, Da-Qing Yang, PhD, Scientist, and Alexei Savinov, MD, Associate Scientist. Sanford Health will also 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.

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Who is Paul Burn, PhD?

A native of Switzerland, Dr. Paul Burn serves as the Broin Chair for The Sanford Project. Previously, Dr. Burn was Senior Vice President of Research and Development at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). He has also held positions at various academic institutions and has published more than ninety articles in some of the most prestigious, scientific journals. He also has background in biotech in big pharma with experience leading project teams successfully. This includes moving drug discovery and development projects forward from the gene, through translational research, into the clinics and in introducing products into the market place. Dr. Burn was trained as a biochemist, cell biologist and molecular biologist and holds a PhD from the Biocenter of the University of Basel, Switzerland.

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Who is Alexander Rabinovitch, MD?

Dr. Alex Rabinovitch (räh-BIN’-o-vitch) joins the team from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In years prior, Dr. Rabinovitch completed both his Bachelor’s and Medical Degree at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, with post-graduate studies completed in Canada, Switzerland and the United States. Known for his expertise in beta cell regeneration in diabetic patients, Dr. Rabinovitch was recently honored with the Excellence in Clinical Research Award from JDRF.

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Who is Da-Qing Yang, PhD?

Originally from China, Dr. Da-Qing Yang (DÄH’-ching YANG) brings to the team his knowledge of cell reprogramming for treating type 1diabetes. Before joining Sanford Research/USD, Dr. Yang was an Assistant Professor in the Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences at the University of South Dakota (USD). He is one of the first scientists to study diabetes in South Dakota.

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Who is Alexei Savinov, MD?

Dr. Alexei Savinov (sähv-IN’-ahv) is a highly educated and well-trained immunologist and cellular biologist who comes to Sanford from the Burnham Institute for Medical Research in LaJolla, CA. The Russian native has formal training as a medical doctor with doctorate thesis in biochemistry. His main area expertise is with autoimmune insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes.

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What is type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes strikes people 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.


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 and how 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.

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” candidates 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, deciding that curing type 1 diabetes through beta cell regeneration best fit these initial criteria.


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?

Along with $10 million donated by Todd and Linda Broin to fund the Chair of The Sanford Project, Sanford Health has committed to support the project. Through federal, other private grant-funding sources and other private gifts, Sanford will seek to establish research efforts totaling more than $100 million each year.

Why did Todd and Linda Broin make this gift?

The Broin family chose to support the Sanford Project in this way because they believe strongly in the cause and because of their personal connection to the disease. Linda, 42, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 12. Her mother, brother and an uncle are also type 1 diabetics.

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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 Sanford Research/USD, the new research headquarters to be located in northeast Sioux Falls. The 300,000-square-foot former Hutchinson Technology building was recently purchased to accelerate research initiatives. This facility will hold all of Sanford Research/USD, which includes 125 researchers and support staff.

Who will Sanford Health collaborate with to find a cure?

The Sanford Project team will collaborate with three prominent organizations. Sanford will work with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the world’s largest charitable funder of research leading to a cure for type 1 diabetes, as well as the Burnham Institute for Medical Research in La Jolla, CA and the Diabetes Research Center at the Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Florida School of Medicine. The Sanford Project team is honored to collaborate with these organizations in search of a cure for type 1 diabetes.

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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, CA, and in Sioux Falls, SD. 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 (JDRF), 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?

Based in Sioux Falls, SD, Sanford Health’s comprehensive, integrated system includes nearly 440 providers in 128 clinic and satellite clinics. It also includes 23 hospitals, 12 nursing homes, 18 assisted living facilities and congregate living locations, 27 home health services and 19 pharmacies. With more than 10,000 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 50,000 inpatients annually. With more than 1.25 million outpatient visits each year, Sanford Health has served the 80,000 square mile, five-state region of South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and North Dakota for more than 110 years. Sanford Health is the largest healthcare system between Denver, CO and Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Its divisions include Sanford USD Medical Center, Sanford Clinic, Sanford Health Network, Sanford Health Plan and Sanford Health Foundation. For more information, visit www.sanfordhealth.org.

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