There’s fresh momentum in the world of type 1 diabetes research, and it’s coming from Boston.
The T1D Fund—a venture capital-style investment fund dedicated to finding breakthroughs in type 1 diabetes (T1D)—has just announced a key leadership change that could accelerate its impact dramatically.
Starting this August, Lucio Iannone, Ph.D., will take the reins as the fund’s new Managing Director.
Meet Lucio Iannone: A Scientific Leader With Global Investment Chops
Dr. Iannone isn’t new to the world of high-stakes biomedical investment.
Before joining the T1D Fund, he led U.S. health investments for Leaps by Bayer, the venture arm of global pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG.
At Leaps, he didn’t just oversee deals—he shaped entire strategies.
He helped guide a global investment team, managed over $1 billion in assets, and helped steer more than 25 biomedical investments, many of which focused on cutting-edge areas like oncology, autoimmune diseases, gene therapies, and chronic illnesses.
With his deep knowledge of the science behind treatments, combined with commercial savvy, Iannone is seen as a perfect fit for the T1D Fund’s mission to drive game-changing diabetes solutions.
A Mission-Driven Fund With an Eye on the Cure
Launched in 2016, the T1D Fund isn’t your typical investment firm.
It exists solely to speed up the development of therapies that can treat, prevent, or cure type 1 diabetes.
Rather than waiting on the sidelines, the fund invests directly in early-stage biotech companies—working hand-in-hand with traditional venture capital and biopharma players.
And it’s not just about money. The Fund aims to catalyze progress, ensuring that scientific breakthroughs don’t get stuck in the lab but actually make their way to people living with T1D.
Backed by T1D Champions and Global Allies
The Fund isn’t doing this work alone. It partners closely with two powerful allies in the fight against T1D: Breakthrough T1D (formerly known as JDRF) and The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
These organizations bring their own global networks, research portfolios, and shared passion for improving the lives of people with diabetes.
Together, they’re creating an ecosystem where new ideas get the support they need to flourish—and fast.
What This Leadership Move Means for the Future
With Lucio Iannone stepping into the lead role, there’s a clear signal that the T1D Fund is ready to scale even higher.
His combination of scientific insight, strategic investment experience, and leadership in biotech innovation could help take the fund’s mission from ambitious to unstoppable.
For the millions of people around the world living with T1D, this move could be one step closer to a cure.