The Bukhman Foundation has today announced a historic £100 million pledge to fund groundbreaking research that will accelerate progress towards new treatments and a cure for type 1 diabetes.
By backing innovative science and driving collaboration among top researchers around the globe, the Bukhman Foundation is committed to transforming the lives of millions living with type 1 diabetes worldwide.
We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Foundation in the UK and to receive one of the first gifts from this pledge, a £300,000 donation which will support a Diabetes UK Fellowship led by Dr Kasra Bahadori at the University of Cambridge.
Dr Bahadori will explore how common viral infections may trigger type 1 diabetes in genetically at-risk children, with the goal of developing new treatments to prevent type 1 from ever developing.
The Bukhman Foundation was set up in 2023 by Anastasia and Igor Bukhman. Their eldest daughter lives with type 1 diabetes and driven by this personal connection, they’re determined to unlock life-changing breakthroughs.
Anastasia and Igor Bukhman, Co-founders of the Bukhman Foundation, said:
“At the Bukhman Foundation, we know first hand the profound impact that type 1 diabetes has on individuals and families. This pledge is deeply personal and reflects our determination to inspire hope and bring meaningful change to families everywhere.
"By funding innovative research and fostering collaboration, we aim to supercharge efforts to find new treatments and, ultimately, a cure. We hope this historic pledge will motivate others to join us in creating a future where type 1 diabetes no longer defines or limits lives.”
Colette Marshall, CEO at Diabetes UK, said:
“Igor and Anastasia Bukhman’s foresight and heartfelt commitment to transforming the lives of people with type 1 diabetes is truly extraordinary. A pledge of this magnitude brings us ever closer to the day when type 1 diabetes no longer means relentless, 24/7 self-management, along with the constant threat of life-altering complications.
"So much of what we know today about the causes and treatment of type 1 diabetes is thanks to research, and it’s research that will one day deliver a cure.
"Thanks to the generosity of Igor and Anastasia Bukhman - and others like them whose philanthropy is supporting research projects across the UK and beyond - that day will come even sooner.”
Dr Elizabeth Robertson, Director of Research and Clinical at Diabetes UK, said:
“We are thrilled by the Bukhman Foundation’s commitment to transforming the lives of people affected by type 1 diabetes. We stand on the brink of a new era in type 1 treatment, and this ambitious pledge will be pivotal in accelerating research towards a cure.
“Diabetes UK and the Bukhman Foundation are united by a shared mission to drive excellence in type 1 research, and we are proud to be partnering to fund cutting-edge studies into the triggers of the condition in children. We hope this vital research will help prevent type 1 diabetes for future generations.”
