Philadelphia – October 12, 2026 -- Breakthrough T1D, formerly JDRF, closed its inaugural Clinical & Research Congress after more than 80 sessions and scheduled the 2027 edition for Washington, D.C., October 15-17, 2027.
The congress ran October 9-11, 2026, in Philadelphia. It brought together clinicians, researchers, scientists, healthcare professionals, industry leaders, people with lived experience and community advocates.
Sessions span immunotherapies, islet cell therapies and AI-driven tools
The program covered endocrinology, discovery science and immunotherapies, and emerging technologies including AI and digital twins. It also addressed islet cell and disease-modifying therapies, and access to care for the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community.
Chief Scientific Officer Sanjoy Dutta said the range of research shows how many routes scientists are pursuing toward treatments and cures. He added that intersections between immunology, cell therapies and technology help the organization decide where to fill knowledge gaps and remove barriers.
Access to care dominates discussion of post-approval impact
Anastasia Albanese-O'Neill, Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs, said the strongest conversations focused on what happens after an advance is made: how it fits into clinical care, who can benefit, and whether people can access it.
Thomas Danne, Chief Medical Officer, International, said the most valuable sessions linked disease research, new treatments and current care needs, making research more useful to clinicians and communities.
The organization states that T1D affects 9.5 million people globally. Adult diagnoses account for nearly 50% of cases, and there is currently no cure.
Washington edition will build on Philadelphia debut
CRC 2027 will be the second Clinical & Research Congress. Chief Executive Officer Aaron Kowalski said the organization launched the event to give the community a place to work through key questions, and that "Philadelphia was the start of that conversation."