February 27, 2016 – JDRF is deeply saddened by the passing of type 1 diabetes (T1D) champion and legendary inventor and philanthropist Al Mann. Mann was honored by JDRF in Los Angeles in 2015 for his incredible contributions to the field which have made the lives of many people with diabetes healthier and easier.

Mr. Mann was a brilliant engineer and prolific inventor. His work spanned many disciplines including hearing loss, pacemakers, and vision restoration. In diabetes, he was committed to the development of an artificial pancreas. He changed diabetes by driving the commercialization first widely-used  insulin pump at his company MiniMed (which was acquired by Medtronic in 2001) as well as the development of continuous glucose sensors/monitors.  Many of Mann’s team continues to make significant impact throughout the diabetes industry.

Most recently, Mr. Mann was a champion for a novel, ultra-rapid inhaled insulin – Afrezza – through his company Mannkind. Afrezza received FDA approval in 2014. JDRF-funded studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara and the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute highlighted the potential for such a rapid-acting insulin to complement artificial pancreas systems by blunting post-meal glucose spikes.

Mr. Mann was able to translate his incredible genius into products that changed the lives of millions of people – with diabetes and beyond.  He created tools that are used by hundreds of thousands of people with diabetes.  He laid the foundation for artificial pancreas system development.  We are now on the cusp of realizing the potential of artificial pancreas systems with the first systems anticipated to reach the market in the 2017 timeframe. Mann was a true diabetes champion.

On behalf of everyone at JDRF and the entire T1D community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Al Mann’s wife Claude, his family, friends, and colleagues.