T1D Fund Taps Philanthropist with Personal T1D Battle to Turbocharge Global Cure Search

BOSTON, MA – April 09, 2026 – The T1D Fund, a venture philanthropy fund dedicated to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes, has appointed entrepreneur and philanthropist Anastasia Bukhman to its Board of Directors. The move signals a significant escalation in the global fight against the autoimmune disease, uniting one of the largest new sources of philanthropic capital with a proven investment model for accelerating medical breakthroughs.

For Bukhman, the co-founder of the Bukhman Foundation, the mission to eradicate type 1 diabetes (T1D) is not just strategic—it is profoundly personal. Both she and her husband, Igor Bukhman, grew up with parents living with the chronic condition. The fight struck home again in 2014 when their eldest daughter was diagnosed with T1D at just three years old. This lived experience has transformed into a powerful philanthropic force, now poised to influence the direction of cure-focused research on a global scale.

“As both a major supporter of T1D innovation and a champion of international collaboration, Anastasia brings philanthropic leadership and valuable strategic perspective to our Board,” said Elizabeth Mily, CEO of the T1D Fund. “She will provide important insights as we continue to expand our network of partners and catalyze the development of promising new therapies for people at risk of, newly diagnosed with, and living with T1D.”

From Family Diagnosis to Philanthropic Force

Anastasia and Igor Bukhman established the Bukhman Foundation in 2023 with a mission to improve lives by supporting medical research, arts, and culture. While their interests are broad, their focus on T1D is laser-sharp, driven by a desire to fund innovative and sometimes risky initiatives that others might overlook. This philosophy is rooted in the daily realities of managing a complex disease and the urgent need for better solutions beyond simple management.

The foundation’s strategy involves not just writing checks, but building an ecosystem of expertise. By surrounding themselves with scientific and clinical leaders, the Bukhmans aim to balance pure academic discovery with the practical challenges of implementing new treatments, ensuring that progress in the lab translates to a better quality of life for patients.

This personal drive is now backed by one of the most significant financial commitments in the history of T1D research. The appointment to the T1D Fund’s board follows the Bukhman Foundation’s recent announcement of a historic £100 million pledge over the next ten years to advance T1D research and advocacy, representing the largest-ever philanthropic gift for T1D in the United Kingdom.

The Power of the Purse: Catalyzing Research with Strategic Capital

The Bukhman Foundation’s financial firepower is already reshaping the T1D research landscape. A substantial portion of the £100 million pledge is being deployed to world-class institutions. This includes a £10 million gift to establish the Bukhman Centre for Research Excellence in Type 1 Diabetes at the University of Oxford, dedicated to developing new treatments and pursuing a cure.

Other initial grants from the pledge include £300,000 to a Diabetes UK fellowship at the University of Cambridge investigating how common viruses may trigger T1D, and a £350,000 donation to Breakthrough T1D UK to support community programs, including an updated version of “Rufus, the Bear with T1D” for newly diagnosed children.

In a direct endorsement of the T1D Fund's unique model, the Bukhman Foundation also committed $12 million to the fund in 2025. This contribution serves as a lead investment in the Fund’s latest $150+ million capital raise, designed to enable larger-scale investments in promising early-stage companies.

This level of funding places the Bukhman Foundation among the top-tier global funders of T1D research, alongside long-established organizations like Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) and The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. The infusion of new capital is expected to de-risk innovative projects and attract further commercial investment into the field.

The Venture Philanthropy Engine

Launched in 2016, the T1D Fund operates not as a traditional charity, but as the first and largest venture philanthropy fund focused exclusively on T1D. It co-invests alongside traditional venture capital and biopharmaceutical companies in early-stage biotech firms that are developing therapies with curative potential. This impact investment model is designed to bridge the perilous funding gap between academic discovery and commercial viability.

To date, the Fund has invested in over 36 companies, managing more than $250 million in assets and catalyzing over $900 million in total investment toward its mission. Its portfolio includes companies like SQZ Biotech, which is exploring cell therapies to regulate the immune system, and Century Therapeutics, which has since gone public. A key element of the fund's model is that all financial returns from successful investments are recycled back into the fund to support new projects, creating a self-sustaining engine for innovation.

Bukhman's appointment is seen as a powerful endorsement of this strategy. Her entrepreneurial background as a co-founder of Creative Restaurant Group, combined with her deep philanthropic commitment, aligns perfectly with the Fund's dual focus on impact and execution.

“We are thrilled to add Anastasia to our board as she will add a new dimension of experience and thinking while also helping to expand our geographical reach in what is clearly a global disease,” stated Jay Eastman, Chair of the T1D Fund Board of Directors. “Anastasia’s track record in philanthropy and focus on T1D brings us a partner who we believe will only help enhance our efforts, attract new capital and companies, and turbo charge our momentum.”

Uniting Global Efforts Against a Global Disease

Bukhman’s appointment is set to amplify the T1D Fund’s international presence, connecting its North American-based operations with the robust research ecosystem the Bukhman Foundation is building in the UK and beyond. This cross-border collaboration is critical for tackling a disease that affects millions worldwide and is projected to impact 853 million people by 2050, according to the International Diabetes Federation.

By joining the board, Bukhman will provide strategic guidance as the Fund broadens its international engagement and strengthens collaboration across the entire T1D research and philanthropic ecosystem. It represents a powerful fusion of personal conviction, immense financial resources, and a proven investment vehicle for accelerating a cure.

“The T1D Fund represents a uniquely powerful model for translating scientific promise into meaningful progress for patients and shares the Bukhman Foundation’s commitment to the T1D community,” Bukhman said. “I am honored to join the Board and support its mission to bring together capital, expertise, and partnerships to accelerate breakthroughs that can change lives.”

With this new alliance, the path toward disease-modifying therapies and a potential cure for type 1 diabetes has gained a formidable new champion, promising to turn personal conviction into global progress.