Dan Marino and Don Strock.
DRI Research Update Inside Our Labs
The research projects at the DRI cover essential strategies aligned with our mission, including safer immune therapies, improving islet cell transplantation, boosting the function of beta cells, and making these cells more resistant to damage. Together, these avenues of research will accelerate the pathway toward cure and prevention of diabetes.
Featured below is a selection of current projects from the Institute’s Immunology Research Group, which are actively driving forward our mission of advancing science to cure and prevent diabetes and change the lives of people with diabetes. These projects are designed to help us achieve our primary goal of restoring natural insulin production and regulating blood sugar levels without undesirable side effects, thus substantially reducing the burden of living with diabetes.
How Blood Flow Inside the Pancreas Might Affect Diabetes
What is the challenge?
In people with diabetes, the tiny blood vessels in the pancreas might not be doing their job properly, especially when it comes to delivering blood to the insulin-producing cells (islets).
How we are trying to solve the issue:
Dr. Joana Almaca and her group are studying special cells called pericytes*, which help control blood flow in the islets. If these cells are not working well, there may be problems with insulin release into the bloodstream. By understanding how these cells function, we might be able to restore healthy blood flow and prevent diabetes from developing.
Can Nerves Help Protect the Pancreas?
What is the challenge?
The pancreas is packed with nerves, but we do not fully understand how nerve signals affect the immune system in that area. If these signals go wrong, it might trigger diabetes.
How we are trying to solve the issue:
This project from Dr. Alejandro Caicedo is exploring how nerve signals influence immune cells in the pancreas. If we learn how to modulate these signals therapeutically, we might be able to slow down or stop the immune attack that causes T1D.
Using GLP-1 Medications to Protect Transplanted Islets
What is the challenge?
When people receive islet cell transplants, their immune system sometimes responds by attacking them or forming harmful protein buildups (called amyloids), which can cause the transplant to fail.
How we are trying to solve the issue:
Dr. Norma Kenyon is testing whether a common T2D drug (called a GLP-1 receptor agonist**) can reduce inflammation and protect the transplanted islets. This could lead to better, longer-lasting results for transplant recipients.
How we are trying to solve the issue:
Unlocking the Immune System’s Secrets in T1D
What is the challenge?
We still do not know exactly what causes the immune system to attack insulin-producing beta cells, or how the immune responses toward beta cells change over time.
Using advanced tissue analysis, Dr. Estefania Quesada-Masachs is looking at molecules on beta cells that might be signaling the immune system to attack and destroy them. Looking at these signaling pathways at various times before and after diagnosis of T1D could help us design better, more targeted therapies based on where a person is on their disease journey.
An Engineered New Way to Deliver Targeted Immune Therapy
What is the challenge?
Treating the immune system with systemic drugs (delivered into the bloodstream and with effects on cells in many different organs) can cause side effects throughout the body, not just in the pancreas.
How we are trying to solve the issue:
Dr. Alice Tomei is exploring a new type of cell therapy using fibroblastric reticular cells (FRCs)***, which naturally help organize immune cells. These can be engineered to target only the harmful immune cells involved in T1D, right at the source, without affecting the rest of the body.
Targeting the Nutrient Sensors in the Cells to Stop Diabetes
What is the challenge?
A protein called 4E-BP2 might be changing how immune cells behave, making them more likely to attack islet cells.
How we are trying to solve the issue:
Dr. Ernesto Bernal-Mizrachi is investigating how this protein affects immune cell metabolism and whether we can target it with medication to prevent or treat T1D.
Predicting Who Will Get T1D
What is the challenge?
Currently, it is hard to definitively determine who is going to develop T1D and when. Better early warning signs are needed so that preventative treatment can be given earlier in the course of disease when some insulin-producing cells are still functioning.
How we are trying to solve the issue:
Dr. Dirk Homann is working to find new biomarkers – measurable signs in the blood or pancreas – that can help predict someone’s risk of getting T1D and track the disease course. This could lead to earlier and more effective interventions.
A look back
When charity golf events were picking up steam in the early ‘80s, Strock and Fishbein found themselves playing in one where only 10% of proceeds were going directly to the charity. Fishbein told Strock he wanted to start a tournament that would contribute 90% to diabetes research if Strock would agree to be his celebrity golfer. The Don Strock Diabetes Golf Classic benefiting the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation was born.
Another name of note from the business world without whom this tournament may never have gotten off the ground is Leonard Miller, Lennar Corporation. When asked to become involved, Miller fully embraced the idea and hosted the inaugural Don Strock Diabetes Classic in 1983 at his golf course at Doral in Miami. (A couple of timing conflicts over the years made the upcoming 2025 event the 40th.)
“So many charity tournaments are run for a few years to raise some money for a good cause and then fade away,” Strock continued. “This one wouldn’t go away. By year two, we had nearly 200 players, and most have stayed with us to this day. It seems like almost every one of them had some connection to diabetes.
“Our first meeting included Don Strock, tennis legend Arthur Ashe, Jill Shapiro from the DRIF, Joe Cerniglia (Florida Mushroom Company president), and yours truly,” recalled Fishbein, who has served as tournament chair since the event’s inception. “For the first tournament, Joe and I, along with Don, guaranteed a $7500 minimum contribution to the DRIF. We made a little over $10K that first year. So, we kept it going.”
“I know people who have served as celebrity golfers for charity events where they essentially show up the day of the event and have someone point them in the right direction. That’s not me. This tournament and its purpose became a major part of my life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Fast forward to the 10th Annual Don Strock Diabetes Golf Classic. They decided to throw a dinner in honor of Don Strock’s 10 years, which became a Don Strock roast. The roasters included numerous Miami Dolphins front office execs and gridiron stars including Marino and tight end Bruce Hardy. “The money we collected from that dinner, which included our first signed memorabilia auction and other really nice donated goodie bag gifts, enabled the DRI to purchase its first cryopreservation machine,” said Fishbein.
Through cryopreservation, DRI researchers could now preserve engineered cell lines or primary cell cultures in a frozen state for long-term availability of standardized samples. A subsequent Strock-funded purchase for the DRI – a histology core analysis system –would be used to prepare, analyze and record imagery of tissue samples.
Of course, when high profile professional athletes get involved, things can get interesting. “One of my favorite Diabetes Golf Classic memories was a round I played with former NFL standouts Earl Morrall and Mercury Morris,” reflects Fishbein. “The two of them fought for at least six holes about an end-of-season Miami Dolphins game many years prior in which Quarterback Morrall had tossed the ball to Running Back Morris. Morris gained several yards on the play and it was called a lateral toss which enabled Morris to top 1000 yards for the season, a significant accomplishment for running backs in those days. Morrall however insisted it was a forward pass, which would have negated Mercury’s 1000yard season. It was hilarious to watch them go at it years later!”
A Final Curtain Call!
When the DRI building was dedicated, the growing Don Strock Diabetes Golf Classic committee was given a tour of the beautiful new Institute on the UM medical campus in Miami. “When we saw the equipment our contributions had facilitated and learned of the difference it was making in DRI research,” added Fishbein, “we were ecstatic!”
A 40-year success story
“I have been involved with countless fundraising events throughout my professional career,” said Michael Burton, Chief Executive Officer of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation. “But when you look at the decades-long commitment of the Strock Classic volunteer committee members – from Don, to Bruce Fishbein, to Doug Tannehill to Bruce Schumin and so many others – it’s impossible to overstate how special this event is. It’s a rarefied combination of friendship, love for the game of golf, and dedication to the Diabetes Research Institute’s mission that sets the Strock Classic apart. We could not be more grateful for their four decades of life-changing support!”
From a few friends wanting to help the son of a colleague living with type 1 diabetes, to a committee of more than 20 – including Doug Tannehill, Bruce Schumin, Joe Vega, Norman Heinrich, and others – most of whom have been loyally committed to this tournament’s success for at least 30 years, the Don Strock Diabetes Golf Classic has contributed more than $5 million to date to the DRIF. This year’s 40th, as agreed by the co-founders, will be the final year in an amazing journey of dedication, sports talk, some good if not great golf, rubbing shoulders with NFL legends, and the joy of doing good. Oh, by the way, the 40-year run is believed to mark the longest running charity golf event in Florida!
This final event was played at the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club in Miami (formerly Miami National Golf Club), its home for more than two decades. It was once again held on a Wednesday—the best day in the produce industry to be off the clock for a good cause, as deliveries took place on Mondays and order corrections hit on Tuesdays.
“One year, a gentleman played in our event who told us why he was so proud to have driven himself to the tournament,” said Strock. “He explained that he had temporarily lost his sight to diabetes complications and was legally blind for 15 years. After being treated at the DRI, he was able to drive again.
“It has been very special to work with a great group of people committed to an important cause for so long,” added Doug Tannehill, who has played a leading role with the tournament for most of its 40-year run. “This has given me the opportunity to give back, and I have really enjoyed planning and attending the tournament every year.”
“That is why we do what we do, and I could not be prouder of our longevity and commitment to such an important mission!”
This final event was played at the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club in Miami (formerly Miami National Golf Club), its home for more than two decades.
1.Bruce Fishbein, Oscar Sotolongo, Jr., Don Strock, and Dan Marino. 2. Don Strock and Bruce Fishbein. 3. Players at tournament. 4. Don Strock. 5. Oscar Sotolongo, Bruce Fishbein, Don Strock, Leonard Miller, Marty Kleiman, Arnold Rubin and Mike Berezin. 6. Michael Burton, Don Strock, Bruce Fishbein, Doug Tannehill, Bruce Schumin, Norman Heinrich
Three Smart and Simple Ways to Make a Charitable Gift from Your IRA
Many of our friends and donors find it convenient and rewarding to support our work with gifts from their IRAs. Giving retirement-plan assets to charitable organizations such as ours offers benefits to the donor as well as to those we serve. Below are three popular and easy ways to make such a gift to further our mission.
Create a Life-Income Plan
It is possible to make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from an IRA without diminishing future retirement income. Thanks to legislation that became effective in 2023, donors can make a one-time QCD, not exceeding $54,000 in 2025 (annually adjusted for inflation), for a life-income plan. The donor and/or spouse would receive payments for life, and then whatever remains of the contribution would be used to help fund our important work.
The payments would be fixed for life or variable, based on the life-income plan selected. As with QCDs for an outright gift, the donor must have reached the age of 70½. QCDs for a life-income plan, like those for an outright gift, are not included in taxable income. Payments are taxable just like personal distributions from an IRA.
The big advantage of a life-income plan is having the satisfaction of making a gift while sustaining, and possibly even increasing, retirement income. We can provide a financial illustration showing the payments one would receive based on the amount contributed and the age(s) of the donor and/or spouse.
Make an Outright Gift
IRA administrators can be authorized to transfer funds to our organization, and those funds can be used currently for whatever purpose the donor has specified. The maximum QCD allowed in 2025 is $108,000 (also indexed for inflation).
For donors aged 70½ or older, QCDs within this limit will not be included in taxable income—as they would be if the donor made a personal withdrawal. Because they are not included in taxable income, they are equivalent to a charitable deduction and thus may save taxes even when donors don’t itemize. Furthermore, when donors reach the age when required minimum distributions (RMDs) begin (currently 73), the QCDs, subject to the yearly limit, count toward those RMDs.
The advantage of an outright gift is that it can be used now to support our mission. The disadvantage is that it will reduce future IRA funds available for retirement, but that may not be a concern if income from various sources exceeds what one will need for living expenses.
Name Our Organization as Beneficiary of an IRA
Many of our donors do not make QCDs from their IRAs during their lifetime because they want to retain access to their entire IRA. However, they arrange for a gift of all or a percentage of whatever funds might remain in their IRA at the end of their life. This is accomplished by completing a change-of-beneficiary form provided by their IRA administrator. If their circumstances should subsequently change, they can alter the beneficiary designation.
If you, like many of our donors, own both an IRA and securities in a brokerage account and you want to make end-of-life gifts both to children (or other loved ones) and to us, it could be advantageous from a tax standpoint to make your family gifts with appreciated securities in your brokerage account and your charitable gift to us with IRA funds.
When children are named as beneficiaries of IRA funds (other than funds in a Roth IRA), they will pay income tax on the IRA distributions. However, if children receive appreciated securities, their basis will be stepped up to the securities’ dateof-death value—resulting in no tax on any gain accruing prior to the death of the giver. Neither IRA funds nor appreciated securities given to us would be subject to tax because we are tax-exempt.
It is also possible to use remaining IRA funds to provide income to heirs for life or for a term of years before the funds become available for our mission. That can be done with a beneficiary arrangement that causes IRA funds to be used to establish a life-income gift that makes payments to heirs first with the remainder coming to us.
As you can see, the three ways to make an IRA gift can accommodate a variety of circumstances. We would be pleased to discuss what might be appropriate for your situation. For more information contact Jill Shapiro Miller at (954) 674-3205 or jshapiro@drif.org.
Want a closer look at how your support powers life-changing research? Join Luke Hollander for an exclusive video tour of the Diabetes Research Institute, where innovation meets hope in the search for a cure for type 1 diabetes. From groundbreaking research to personal stories of dedication, this behind-the-scenes look is a must-watch!
