Thank you ...

Dear Susan, Kailyn, and supporters of the Blair Type 1 Diabetes Foundation,

I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your foundation's generous donation to support cure-based research for Type 1 diabetes at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. As a physician and scientist who has dedicated my career to finding a cure for this disease, your contribution means a great deal to me, my team, and the millions living with T1D.

Thanks to your generous gift we will be able to accelerate our efforts to develop cell-based therapies that can potentially restore natural insulin production in T1D patients. Your funding helps cover the costs of procuring equipment, hiring additional staff, and purchasing supplies needed to move this innovative research forward. I was pleased to be able to attend the #TAKE1DOWN Gala earlier this summer to share our latest research updates and I look forward to the upcoming Raising the Bar for Diabetes Research presentation to share how philanthropy, including donations from BT1DF, has enabled innovation and accelerated progress.

Beyond the tangible impact, your renewed support lifts the spirits of everyone working towards a cure. It validates the importance of this mission and renews our motivation. On behalf of the entire UPMC Children's Hospital research team, patients, and families affected by T1D, I want to extend my deepest thanks. We are inspired by your compassion and promise to honor your donation and Kailyn's fight against T1D by continuing to work tirelessly until we make a cure for this disease a reality.

With immense gratitude,

George K. Gittes, MD
Benjamin R. Fisher Chair and Professor of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatrics
Chief of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery
Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Director, Richard King Mellon Foundation Institute for Pediatric Research and
Director of Surgical Research and Scientific Co-Director of all Research,
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
One Children's Hospital Drive
Pittsburgh, PA. 15224
Tel: 412-692-7291
e-mail: George.Gittes@chp.edu