The Diabetes Association (Foothills) supports local Diabetes research and special Diabetes projects, with particular emphasis on funding research projects conducted at the Julia McFarlane Diabetes Research Centre (JMDRC) in the Faculty of Medicine at The University of Calgary.

The Centre employs a team of more than 20 top research scientists. This team of scientists is headed by the Julia McFarlane Diabetes Research Centre Director Dr. David Lau and the Chair, Dr. Pere Santamaria. Dr. Lau and Dr. Yoon are internationally renowned leaders in Diabetes research.