$172,000 Fundraised by the Joseph Nozzolillo Memorial Foundation to Support Research at UMass Diabetes Center of Excellence
Date Posted: Friday, September 25, 2026
The Joseph “Nuzzy” Nozzolillo Memorial Foundation continues to make a meaningful impact on type 1 diabetes research at the UMass Diabetes Center of Excellence (DCOE), surpassing $172,000 in fundraising over nine years. The Foundation’s annual Nuzzy Memorial Golf Tournament raised another $20K in 2026.
Joe's family and friends have remained closely connected to the UMass Chan DCOE, visiting the laboratories in Worcester multiple times to learn about the type 1 diabetes research their fundraising supports and its connection to clinical research at UMass Memorial’s Ambulatory Care Center, where Joe was a patient.
Joe was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes shortly after his 10th birthday and received care at UMass Memorial Medical Center, where he developed strong relationships with his diabetes care team. Over time, he faced significant challenges maintaining blood glucose targets and developed serious complications, including severe diabetic neuropathy. He passed away at age 31.
During their lab visits, DCOE co-director David Harlan, MD, has shared updates on the collaborative research he leads through the Breakthrough T1D Barbara D. Cammett Center of Excellence in New England.
“We had no idea all of this cutting-edge diabetes research was happening here in Worcester,” said Joe’s sister Leah during her first lab tour. “We knew my brother’s care team was excellent, but the more we learn about the research, the more hopeful we are that we’ll eventually see a cure for type 1 diabetes!”
Support from the Nuzzy Memorial Foundation directly advances our mission to better understand the underlying causes of diabetes and develop innovative therapies. Through the continued dedication of the Nozzolillo family and Joe’s friends, his legacy lives on in research aimed at improving the lives of people with diabetes.
