Dana A. Ball
Program Director, Type 1 Diabetes Program
For over 10 years, Dana Ball has been helping to drive funding for innovative type 1 diabetes initiatives. In his current position as Program Director for the Helmsley Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Program, Dana has developed long-term strategies and created initiatives that fund novel approaches in research, technology, systems, and outreach, resulting in a grants portfolio currently totaling over $90 million. Dana has been instrumental in building the Helmsley Type 1 Diabetes Program’s T1D Exchange, a platform for collaborative research and data sharing in type 1 diabetes that combines the best aspects of traditional clinical research with the expanding fields of health information technology and social networking. He has also facilitated strategic partnerships with organizations such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and convened type 1 diabetes funders to eliminate duplicate efforts and create more efficiency and impact in the field.
Prior to joining the Helmsley Charitable Trust, Dana served as Executive Director at the Iacocca Foundations, where he led a successful multi-million dollar campaign and created a program to fund medical research and scientific advances in type 1 diabetes prevention and treatment. During his time at the Iacocca Foundations, Dana also spearheaded an initiative to coordinate the efforts of private and public foundations to reduce inefficiencies and redundancies in diabetes funding.
In addition to extensive experience in private philanthropy and working with high net worth individuals, Dana also has broad advocacy experience in a wide range of serious diseases, including HIV, as well as expertise in public relations and marketing.
Dana serves on the Executive Committee of the T1D Exchange and on the Board of Directors of T1D First and Small Army for a Cause. He was educated at the University of Southern Maine. When he has the time, he enjoys an active outdoor life that includes hiking, biking, equestrian events, and travel.