David Winkler. Sean M. Haffey • U-T
David Winkler, attorney and CEO of Del Mar Partnership, Inc., is a major organizer and philanthropist in the scientific fight to cure diabetes. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 6.
“At a very early age, I was motivated to get the most out of every minute of my life. My diabetes caused me to be self-reflective of my own existence, not that I didn’t do rock climbing or backpack around Asia for four months, or enjoy solo sailing — this last probably insane given my condition.”
Recently, Winkler helped fund and found UC San Diego’s Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, which will relocate and consolidate at the new Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, which breaks ground Jan. 10. Winkler also is helping to launch this spring the Diabetes Research Connection, a new Internet concept that will connect donors to specific scientists researching the causes, cures, complications and care of the disease.
The U-T recently asked Winkler about his efforts to help with diabetes research:
Q: What is your role at Del Mar Partnership?
A: I work closely with my partners, providing oversight and strategy while at times delving more deeply into existing and new real estate and business ventures. Past projects include the Del Mar Plaza and numerous bioscience research facilities, including major labs for The Scripps Research Institute and UCSD’s bioscience center at Genesee and Torrey Pines.
Q: How did you get involved in giving back?
A: My parents and other family members always emphasized the importance of charitable giving. Knowing the consequences of Type 1 diabetes on a personal and family level, I was compelled to work to help find solutions. I decided to merge my knowledge of business and biology in the realm of not-for-profits.
Q: How has diabetes, and the search for a cure, inspired your philanthropy?
A: One in 20 kids with Type 1 diabetes dies from the disease. Constant vigilance is required to avoid the perils of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) including sudden unconsciousness. Several friends and family members have died from diabetes in my lifetime. It is the leading cause of adult blindness and kidney failure. Diabetes often results in cardiovascular problems, amputations and metabolic disorders. We need a cure and ways to prevent it, as well as better ways to care for diabetics. I realized I had to do more than just take better care of myself. I chose to invest both time and capital in trying to find answers as a venture philanthropist.
Q: What is the Diabetes Research Connection?
A: It’s a new concept that will take advantage of Internet-based crowd sourcing to fund novel peer-reviewed diabetes research. Researchers will communicate with donors using this transparent platform for early stage data gathering in order to establish “proof of a scientific principle,” in initial experiments. Fifty leading scientists have already committed to peer-review grant applications. Then the researchers will be able to apply for larger grants from the National Institutes of Health, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and other sources. The DRC website is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2013. It is expected to provide a reproducible platform for other disease-curing organizations to raise needed research dollars, especially in support of post-docs and young faculty.
In the recent past, I helped found, with Dr. Alberto Hayek and others, UCSD’s Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, endowing and recruiting a medical chair. The vision for the PDRC is to provide the San Diego region with a vertically integrated comprehensive diabetes center, combining basic and clinical translational research at the Altman CTRI Building — which will break ground Jan. 10 — along with transitional clinical and hospital care for children and adults.
Q: Who are the people who have most inspired you?
A: I am inspired by caring individuals who are diligent, respectful, and purposeful, who seek to better the lives of others and care for the planet. I appreciate politicians who work selflessly to better the future for humankind, and who are willing to compromise, without compromising their ethics or values. I am also inspired by my thoughtful business partner of 33 years, Ivan Gayler, a man altruistic, kindhearted, engaging, creative, as well as philanthropic; by Lorraine and Chris Stiehl — both extraordinary leaders in the fight to defeat diabetes; and by Irwin Jacobs, Sol Price and other San Diegans who have demonstrated strong entrepreneurial and philanthropic leadership in our city.
Q: What would you do to make San Diego a better place?
A: I would increase the level of cooperation between health-care providers with better medical record transfers, coordination of care and facilities to minimize redundancy and increase efficiency, so that we can better use taxpayer and philanthropic contributions. I would also improve biking and mass-transit infrastructure. (I like to bike.)
Q: What would your advice to young people be?
A: Lead a balanced life. Prioritize family. Have close enduring friends. Do gratifying work and participate in philanthropic efforts.
“At a very early age, I was motivated to get the most out of every minute of my life. My diabetes caused me to be self-reflective of my own existence, not that I didn’t do rock climbing or backpack around Asia for four months, or enjoy solo sailing — this last probably insane given my condition.”
Recently, Winkler helped fund and found UC San Diego’s Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, which will relocate and consolidate at the new Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, which breaks ground Jan. 10. Winkler also is helping to launch this spring the Diabetes Research Connection, a new Internet concept that will connect donors to specific scientists researching the causes, cures, complications and care of the disease.
The U-T recently asked Winkler about his efforts to help with diabetes research:
Q: What is your role at Del Mar Partnership?
A: I work closely with my partners, providing oversight and strategy while at times delving more deeply into existing and new real estate and business ventures. Past projects include the Del Mar Plaza and numerous bioscience research facilities, including major labs for The Scripps Research Institute and UCSD’s bioscience center at Genesee and Torrey Pines.
Q: How did you get involved in giving back?
A: My parents and other family members always emphasized the importance of charitable giving. Knowing the consequences of Type 1 diabetes on a personal and family level, I was compelled to work to help find solutions. I decided to merge my knowledge of business and biology in the realm of not-for-profits.
Q: How has diabetes, and the search for a cure, inspired your philanthropy?
A: One in 20 kids with Type 1 diabetes dies from the disease. Constant vigilance is required to avoid the perils of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) including sudden unconsciousness. Several friends and family members have died from diabetes in my lifetime. It is the leading cause of adult blindness and kidney failure. Diabetes often results in cardiovascular problems, amputations and metabolic disorders. We need a cure and ways to prevent it, as well as better ways to care for diabetics. I realized I had to do more than just take better care of myself. I chose to invest both time and capital in trying to find answers as a venture philanthropist.
Q: What is the Diabetes Research Connection?
A: It’s a new concept that will take advantage of Internet-based crowd sourcing to fund novel peer-reviewed diabetes research. Researchers will communicate with donors using this transparent platform for early stage data gathering in order to establish “proof of a scientific principle,” in initial experiments. Fifty leading scientists have already committed to peer-review grant applications. Then the researchers will be able to apply for larger grants from the National Institutes of Health, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and other sources. The DRC website is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2013. It is expected to provide a reproducible platform for other disease-curing organizations to raise needed research dollars, especially in support of post-docs and young faculty.
In the recent past, I helped found, with Dr. Alberto Hayek and others, UCSD’s Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, endowing and recruiting a medical chair. The vision for the PDRC is to provide the San Diego region with a vertically integrated comprehensive diabetes center, combining basic and clinical translational research at the Altman CTRI Building — which will break ground Jan. 10 — along with transitional clinical and hospital care for children and adults.
Q: Who are the people who have most inspired you?
A: I am inspired by caring individuals who are diligent, respectful, and purposeful, who seek to better the lives of others and care for the planet. I appreciate politicians who work selflessly to better the future for humankind, and who are willing to compromise, without compromising their ethics or values. I am also inspired by my thoughtful business partner of 33 years, Ivan Gayler, a man altruistic, kindhearted, engaging, creative, as well as philanthropic; by Lorraine and Chris Stiehl — both extraordinary leaders in the fight to defeat diabetes; and by Irwin Jacobs, Sol Price and other San Diegans who have demonstrated strong entrepreneurial and philanthropic leadership in our city.
Q: What would you do to make San Diego a better place?
A: I would increase the level of cooperation between health-care providers with better medical record transfers, coordination of care and facilities to minimize redundancy and increase efficiency, so that we can better use taxpayer and philanthropic contributions. I would also improve biking and mass-transit infrastructure. (I like to bike.)
Q: What would your advice to young people be?
A: Lead a balanced life. Prioritize family. Have close enduring friends. Do gratifying work and participate in philanthropic efforts.
