William Sansum Diabetes Center: Pioneering Research Into Diabetes Treatment

The William Sansum Diabetes Center, previously known as the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute, is a non-profit research center based on Santa Barbara. The center was named in honor of its founder, Dr. William Sansum, a notable pioneer in diabetes research and the first doctor to administer a U.S.-made insulin injection into an American patient in 1922. Dr. Sansum is also the founder of a primary care group, the Samsun Clinic, although the two are not affiliated.

The center is widely considered as a leading institution in diabetes research with particular focus on Type 1 diabetes. By promoting research and development into the chronic degenerative disorder, the organization aims for more effective treatments for diabetes and, ultimately, for a cure. Two of its most notable works are: first, the development of advanced protocols for Type 1 diabetes management in pregnant women; and second, the development of an artificial pancreas device used in the management of insulin delivery and glucose monitoring.

The research and development of the artificial pancreas was developed as a result of a $2.3 million grant. Once complete, the device would work by gathering real-time data from a continuous sensor with secure attachment to the wearer’s body. The data gathered will be combined with a sophisticated set of algorithms that will direct the insulin pump’s injection. While the device is not a cure, it will improve the quality of life for patients who must administer insulin injections to manage their symptoms.

Many of the world’s foremost diabetes researchers are with or have been with the William Sansum Diabetes Center. Dr. Lois Jovanovic, one of the innovators in the advanced protocols for Type 1 diabetes management in pregnant women, was with the organization for 26 years before retiring as its chief scientific officer in 2014. With its thrust in pioneering diabetes research, the center continues to attract the best minds in the scientific community.