Harold Hamm Diabetes Center’s Connect+Cure Gala Raises $1.8 Million for Diabetes Research

More than 800 people gathered for the 2023 Connect+Cure Gala on November 29 to support the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center and celebrate the progress being made toward finding a cure for diabetes.

Now in its sixth year, the Connect+Cure Gala raised more than $1.8 million in support of diabetes research and care, with more than $250,000 raised to specifically sponsor participants in Camp Blue Hawk, a residential camp program for children and teens, ages 9 to 17, with Type 1 diabetes.

“This year’s Connect+Cure Gala was a celebration of how far we have come in raising awareness, and the breakthrough research that has taken place in our mission to find a cure for diabetes,” said Harold Hamm, lifetime HHDC Board Member. “Of course, none of what has been accomplished would be possible without the generosity of the individuals and companies that helped make this year’s gala the best yet. Congratulations to Governor Bill Anoatubby for receiving the first Distinguished Partner Award, and to Sir Stephen O’Rahilly, the 2023 Harold Hamm International Prize for Biomedical Research recipient. We will continue to work together in pushing the envelope in research and innovation and finding a cure for diabetes.”

The evening was emceed by professional actor and Oklahoma native Elvie Ellis, who currently stars in the national tour of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. Grammy award-winning singers Vince Gill and Amy Grant provided the evening’s entertainment with a private concert, kicking off their Christmas tour.

Also recognized at the gala was the 2023 Harold Hamm International Prize for Biomedical Research in Diabetes. The bi-annual award, the largest of its kind in the world, is personally funded by Hamm and recognizes innovation in the field of diabetes research with an emphasis on progress toward finding a cure for diabetes.

Sir Stephen O’Rahilly, M.D., FRS, FMedSci, professor and head of the Clinical Biochemistry and Medicine department at the University of Cambridge, was named the 2023 Hamm Prize Laureate and received a $250,000 award.

O’Rahilly co-directs the Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, one of the world’s largest institutes for metabolic research at the University of Cambridge. He is a graduate of the University College of Dublin and the National University of Ireland. Before his appointment to the University of Cambridge, O’Rahilly held clinical and research fellow positions at the University of Oxford and Harvard University.

O’Rahilly was selected as the 2023 Hamm Prize Laureate for his research that linked a specific mechanism to the development of obesity. Obesity is considered the biggest risk factor for Type 2 diabetes and O’Rahilly’s rigorous clinical research defined very specific molecular mechanisms and genes that are responsible for the condition of obesity.

In addition to the Hamm Prize, O’Rahilly has been recognized internationally for his research findings. In 2013, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth for services to medical research, specifically, his work in diabetes research.

“It was a pleasure to take part in this year’s Connect+Cure fundraising gala,” said Jed Friedman, Ph.D., director of OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center at OU Health Sciences and associate vice provost for diabetes programs. “I want to express my gratitude to the collective efforts of the audience and our donors who recognize their meaningful contribution to the ongoing battle against diabetes. This event strengthens our collective effort to improve the quality of life for individuals living with diabetes. Your contributions also play a vital role in advancing research, treatment, and awareness initiatives, which bring us one step closer to making a lasting impact on the lives of those affected by this condition.”

Additional highlights of the evening included remarks by Governor Bill Anoatubby, Chickasaw Nation, who was awarded the inaugural Distinguished Partner Award for his ongoing support of diabetes research and care.

Other distinguished guests in attendance included Governor Kevin Stitt and First Lady Sarah Stitt, several members of the Oklahoma legislature, and TV’s Mike Rowe.

The HHDC Connect+Cure Gala is a bi-annual event. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2023 event was the first time the Connect+Cure event was held since 2019. Please look for information about the 2025 gala to be released at a later date.

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About OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences
OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center is committed to finding a cure for diabetes and ending the diabetes pandemic in the 21st century. It is among the world’s largest and most comprehensive institutions of its kind, integrating top-flight academic research with clinical care and disease prevention. The center oversees the world’s top research prize in the diabetes field. It has facilities in Oklahoma City and Tulsa as well as affiliated sites across the state, including partnerships with Native American communities. An innovative range of services includes support groups, cooking classes, lifestyle-intervention programs, and a summer camp for children and teens. For more information, visit hammdiabetescenter.org.