Video: Sanford Health’s Journey to Cure Type 1 Diabetes Receives Major Boost

      Historic $10 Million Gift Creates Fund for Sanford Project Chair



    SIOUX FALLS, S.D., July 10 /EMWNews/ -- Sanford Health announced

today it has received a $10 million gift from Todd and Linda Broin of Sioux

Falls, SD to fund the chair of the Sanford Project. The gift for the Todd

and Linda Broin Chair of the Sanford Project will be used to support the

Sanford Project research director's salary as well as research activities

associated with the director role. According to the Center on Philanthropy

at Indiana University, which tracks all publicly-reported gifts of $1

million or more through its Million Dollar List, this is likely the largest

known private gift given for the recruitment and support of a single

research leader and that individual's related research activities.



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    "The success of the Sanford Project is dependent on the expertise and

dedication of a world-class research team," said Sanford Health President

and Chief Executive Officer Kelby Krabbenhoft. "This generous donation from

Todd and Linda Broin will allow us to support a lead researcher and the

team who will attack and cure type 1 diabetes by focusing on beta cell

regeneration." "We came to the conclusion in our lifetime we want to give a

gift that has meaning, and this is that one gift that has a lot of

purpose," stated Todd Broin. Linda Broin added, "We didn't want it to be an

endowment. We're doing this for the cure. We want this to happen and

believe it will happen here in Sioux Falls."



    On June 6, Sanford Health leaders announced the objective of the

Sanford Project is to cure type 1 diabetes via the body's natural ability

to regenerate beta cells. Type 1 diabetes currently affects 3 million

people in the United States, including Linda Broin who has suffered from

the disease for almost 30 years. It is an autoimmune disease in which the

body's immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells of the

pancreas. It often strikes during childhood, makes patients dependent on

insulin for life and carries the constant threat of devastating

complications.



    "Todd and Linda Broin believe the Sanford Project will bring them and

millions of others relief from this disease," added Krabbenhoft. "Through

the Sanford Project, our research team will hope to either spur the body to

copy existing functioning beta cells or to coax the pancreas to create new

ones. When people with the disease have regenerated beta cells, they can

begin making their own insulin again."



    Regeneration research focuses on triggering the body to re-grow the

insulin-producing beta cells that have been killed by the autoimmune

response. It also works to prevent destruction of the newly regenerated

cells by the same autoimmune reaction. The intent of the Sanford Project

will be to focus on bench-side research and closely integrating

translational research opportunities with clinical treatment. The Sanford

Project is one of four initiatives outlined after a transformational gift

of $400 million by South Dakota businessman and philanthropist Denny

Sanford in 2007.



    "I am absolutely thrilled by this extraordinary gift," stated Denny

Sanford. "Todd and Linda's amazing initiative and generosity has

established a great pace for accomplishment for the Sanford Project. This

will capture the attention of the best research scientist candidates from

around the world. I am grateful, touched and inspired by this extraordinary

leadership, and I add my heartfelt and sincere thanks along with the

millions who suffer with type 1 diabetes. Thank you, Todd and Linda Broin,

for jump starting the quest for the cure in such a dramatic and impacting

fashion!"



    To chair the Sanford Project, Sanford Health is currently recruiting a

senior scientific leader with a superior record of accomplishment in type 1

diabetes research. The core of the Sanford Project research will be

conducted in a developing 185-acre research park in the city's growing

southwest corridor. In addition to the $10 million donation from Todd and

Linda Broin, Sanford Health plans an investment of $30 million over five to

seven years. Additional funding is expected from foundation and industry

sources as well as the National Institutes of Health.

    About Sanford Health



    Sanford Health's comprehensive, integrated system includes nearly 370

physicians in 115 clinics, 23 hospitals, 13 nursing homes, 17 assisted

living facilities and congregate living locations, 27 home health services

and 19 pharmacies. With approximately 12,000 employees, Sanford Health is

the largest employer in the region. Its primary 500-bed nonprofit tertiary

care hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, serves an average of more than 30,000

inpatients annually. With more than a million outpatient visits each year,

Sanford Health has served the 80,000 square mile, four-state region of

South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska for over 110 years. Sanford

Health is the largest healthcare system between Mayo Clinic in Rochester,

MN, and Denver, CO. Its divisions include Sanford USD Medical Center,

Sanford Clinic, Sanford Health Network, Sanford Health Plan and Sanford

Health Foundation. For more information, visit http://www.sanfordhealth.org.