Dad’s mission: Biomedical engineer creates lifesaving device for son

Ed Damiano knows firsthand that for a parent Type 1 diabetes can be frightening, especially at night when his child is asleep, during which the “dead in bed syndrome” can occur. Damiano, who’s son, David, was diagnosed with the illness as an infant, is an associate professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Boston University, where he developed a bionic pancreas, a device that currently uses a smartphone that calculates blood sugar information and sends it wirelessly to two pumps that automatically release the hormones insulin, to lower blood sugar, and glucagon, to raise blood sugar.

People with Type 1 diabetes just don’t have good enough tools. … The bionic pancreas is a device which gives them the tools they need to achieve good blood sugars.

Ed Damiano, biomedical engineer whose son has Type 1 diabetes

About 3 million Americans have Type 1 diabetes, which is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. Unlike Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 is chronic and requires a lifetime of insulin therapy. Damiano hopes the bionic pancreas will be Food and Drug Administration approved by 2017—when his son will head off to college.

He’s afraid that I won’t be able to take care of myself as well when I’m away and alone. … So he took on this huge project.

David Damiano, 15, Type 1 diabetes patient

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