Ask the FDA to give top priority to its review of the bionic pancreas!

Every parent worries about the day their type 1 child will have manage diabetes on his or her own. When Ed Damiano's son, David, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, he was determined to create a bionic pancreas before David went to college. As an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Boston University, Ed had a real opportunity to make his dream reality.

"It's probably the single greatest concern a parent has ... is not only taking care of their kid at night but, how their kid is going to do that when they are on their own," he said.

The bionic pancreas that Ed and his team designed not only administers insulin like an insulin pump, but also dispenses glucagon in tiny doses to precisely increase blood sugar. This will give patients the ability to function as if they had an actual pancreas, though it will be located outside of the body. Currently in its third iteration, the bionic pancreas is still being tested in clinical studies with Massachusetts General Hospital.

After more than a decade of rigorous effort, Ed Damiano's dream is closer than ever to becoming reality. Ed's goal is to submit the bionic pancreas to the FDA in time to get the agency's approval for production and use by 2017, when David is expected to graduate from high school. The team of experts collaborating with Ed is currently working on the clinical trials and finishing touches for the device prior to submitting it to the FDA.

Let's join together to support Ed Damiano's work, and change the world for type 1 diabetics. Sign to ask the FDA Medical Devices Advisory Committee to prioritize the review and approval process once the bionic pancreas is submitted.