A foundation recognized as being of public interest, the FFRD aims to improve knowledge of diabetes, its significance and to reduce the burden of its complications through the 29 Francophone projects it has funded to date!
FFRD calls for projects
Generally, FFRD research grants range from €150,000 to €300,000 each, bringing the total amount awarded to between €600,000 and €900,000 per year! The projects, which focus on type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes, involve three different types of research related to the following:
- clinical research
- basic research
- translational research
At the end of the annual call for projects, to which various Francophone research teams apply, 2 to 3 recipients are awarded a research grant. The payment of this grant is typically spread over 3 years, with one-third disbursed each year.
The selection of the recipients is based on the following 5 main criteria:
- Scientific originality,
- The candidates’ competitiveness at the international level,
- The feasibility of the project,
- The alignment between the financial request and the scientific objectives,
- The coherence of the project.
The FFRD into figures since its creation in 2013…
29 Francophone recipients awarded, including:
2 Belgians 12 Parisians 12 France out of Paris 1 Cameroonian 1 Canadian 1 Swiss
The FFRD is proud to dedicate almost 80% of its expenses to research and is happy to be able to support high-quality research in Francophone diabetology, for already 11 years, thanks to its partners !
The basic research projects
The basic research projects have addressed major themes related to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, such as:
- The protection and replacement of pancreatic beta cells,
- Molecular mechanisms contributing to insulin resistance,
- Implications of other key organs: the liver, adipose tissue, intestine,
- The contribution of the microbiota to metabolic diseases.
The 11 basic research projects were carried out by the awarded recipients:
- Romano REGAZZI, Lausanne (2013)
- Hélène DUEZ, Lille (2014)
- Daniela COTA, Bordeaux (2015)
- David DOMBROWICZ, Lille (2016)
- Raphael SCHARFMANN, Paris (2017)
- Fabienne FOUFELLE, Paris (2018)
- Miriam CNOP, Bruxelles (2019)
- Julien DIANA, Paris (2020)
- Mariana IGOILLO-ESTEVE, Bruxelles (2021)
- Soazig LE LAY, Nantes (2022)
- Soraya TALEB, Paris (2023)
The clinical research projects
Clinical research projects, on the other hand, have addressed not only themes related to type 1 and type 2 diabetes but also gestational diabetes and diabetes associated with cystic fibrosis. They include large multicentric cohort studies as well as more mechanistic and/or interventional studies. The 13 clinical research projects were carried out by the awarded recipients:
- Blandine COMTE, Clermont-Ferrand (2013)
- Rémy BURCELIN, Toulouse (2014)
- Eugène SOBNGWI, Yaoundé (2015)
- François PATTOU, Lille (2015)
- Roberto MALLONE, Paris (2015)
- Emmanuel COSSON, Bondy (2016)
- Philippe FROGUEL, Lille (2017)
- Agnès LEHUEN, Paris (2018)
- Kamel MOHAMMEDI, Bordeaux (2019)
- Rémi RABASA-LHORET, Montréal (2020)
- Etienne LARGER, Paris (2021)
- Jacques BELTRAND, Paris (2022)
- Olivier BOURRON, Paris (2023)
The translational research projects
The 5 translational research projects were carried out by the awarded recipients:
- Nicolas VENTECLEF, Paris (2016)
- Hubert VIDAL, Lyon (2018)
- Xavier PRIEUR, Nantes (2019)
- Guillaume WALTHER, Avignon (2019)
- Mikaël CROYAL, Nantes (2023)
Several of these clinical or translational research projects have specifically studied:
- the role of the gut an microbiota (3 projects)
- the role of the epigenitic (2 projects),
Themes on which the Francophone Foundation for Diabetes Research has particularly communicated through its website and with patients of the Fédération Française des Diabétiques, especially during the year 2023. 
History of FFRD Awarded recipients
Find the full list of the 29 awarded recipients of the Francophone Foundation for Diabetes Research and the themes of their respective projects. Basic, clinic or translational… type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes… the FFRD is committed to all stages of the Francophone research and supports all types of diabetes! Discover the key dates for the 2024 call for projects, as well as the 40 candidates who submitted applications this year! Record broken… Long life to FFRD and its annual call for projects! ❤️ The FFRD 2024 brochure is available for download HERE