THE NEED
There is a clear and overwhelming consensus among the diabetes community that the current model to fund the best cure-focused research is broken. Patients, parents and advocates are all frustrated by the slow and incremental progress to date. Scientists and researchers are similarly frustrated, as the pool of available funding to support the critical work of finding a cure is getting smaller and more competitive.
Although competition is healthy, the constant search for funding has proved inefficient, as it consumes the scientific process of discovery while discouraging true collaboration among the research community. Further, there are very few funding sources, if any, that will fund risk. By our definition, we mean ideas by the most experienced and reputable scientists that will never be tested due to the probability, either real or perceived, of failure. It is time for a new model.
THE MISSION
iamtype3.org is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing direct financial support to the most experienced and accomplished scientists in the field of cure-focused diabetes research. Proceeds will be dedicated to facilitate collaboration among all recipients; accelerate the pace of research leading to a permanent cure for diabetes; fund plausible initiatives by the best scientific minds deemed too risky by conventional sources.
THE TEAM
Stephen O’Connor, Ph.D., is a dedicated father of a type 1 diabetic and a co-founder of iamtype3.org. Steve has spent most of his professional career in non-profits, serving in executive positions and on the boards of many national and internationally recognized institutions. He leads the vision of iamtype3.org, bridging the gap between the world's leading researchers and the global community that seeks to support them. He and his wife Sandy have two grown children who are also active in the mission. Contact Steve: steve@iamtype3.org
Ryan O'Connor has been living with type 1 diabetes since 1999. His career focuses on business development in early and late stage ventures, executing partnerships and acquisitions across startups and the Fortune 500. His deals have appeared in national publications including "The New York Times," "TechCrunch," and "Billboard Magazine." Ryan's a co-founder of iamtype3.org, spearheading operations and clumsily building this website. Contact Ryan: ryan@iamtype3.org
Sandy O'Connor with her husband Steve, is a co-founder of iamtype3.org and currently serves on the board on a volunteer basis. She is the mother of a type 1 diabetic and a step-daughter to a type 2. Sandy left a 25 year professional career as a designer in the field of advertising and marketing to pursue an encore career as a fine artist. Most notably she held the position of Director of Creative Services for Bloomberg, LP. Today she is a nationally award winning fine artist and instructor. Contact Sandy: sandy@iamtype3.org
Uri Laserson serves on the board of iamtype3.org and is a data scientist at Cloudera. Previously, he received his Ph.D. from MIT developing applications of high-throughput DNA sequencing to immunology. During that time, he co-founded Good Start Genetics, a next-generation diagnostics company focused on genetic carrier screening. In 2012 he was selected to Forbes's list of 30 under 30.
Michael Taormina is a type 1 diabetic and serves on the board of iamtype3.org. He is the co-founder of CommonBond, a venture-backed marketplace lending platform for student loans that has originated over $175mm since 2013. Mike served as CFO and was responsible for all things financial at the firm, including capital strategy, analytics, investor relations, and FP&A. Prior to CommonBond, Mike was a Vice President at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, where he specialized in interest rate and foreign exchange trading for high-net-worth clients
Bill McBain serves on the board and has thrived with diabetes for over 16 years. Professionally, he is the manager of Finance and Operations for Razorfish, a digital advertising agency, where he leads the Client Finance team. Prior to Razorfish Bill was an associate advertising pricing manager for People Magazine at Time Inc. Before that he worked in commercial aircraft financing and commercial banking as he completed coursework in Connecticut, Seattle, and Ireland as part of GE Capital’s Financial Management program. Bill is an alumnus of Fairfield University with a bachelor of science in finance, accounting, and journalism.
Max Goldberg is a type 3, who dedicates his digital marketing expertise to the cause. His agency work has launched ADDY Award-winning digital campaigns with clients such as the Israeli Tourism Board, LA Fitness, Lenovo, Samsung and Starbucks. He received his B.A. in Entrepreneurial Studies and Theater from Emerson College, Boston and currently works in Los Angeles.
