Over 800 guests gathered at the 2025 Connect+Cure Gala, raising $4.7 million to support the University of Oklahoma Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center’s pioneering research and programs focused on improving the lives of people affected by diabetes.
The funds raised will primarily support research initiatives, with a portion directed toward diabetes outreach, prevention programs, and scholarships for Camp Blue Hawk, a residential summer camp for youth aged 9 to 17 living with Type 1 diabetes.
The event featured Emmy Award-winning journalist Robin Marsh as master of ceremonies and an exceptional performance by eight-time Grammy Award winner Carrie Underwood, an Oklahoma native.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Harold Hamm International Prize for Biomedical Research in Diabetes to Professor Dr. Anette-Gabriele Ziegler, director of the Institute of Diabetes Research at Helmholtz Munich and Chair in Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes at Technische Universität München. The biennial award, endowed by Harold Hamm, carries a $250,000 prize, the largest of its kind in the world. It honors individuals whose research has advanced the understanding, treatment, or potential cure of diabetes.
Dr. Ziegler’s groundbreaking work has advanced global understanding of Type 1 diabetes, including launching the first birth cohort study on the disease’s onset, developing a public screening program to detect early markers of diabetes, and contributing to research that led to FDA approval of teplizumab, the first immunotherapy shown to delay the onset of Type 1 diabetes in at-risk individuals.
In recognition of his exceptional philanthropy, Harold Hamm was also presented with the inaugural Crystal Seed Sower Award by the University of Oklahoma, honoring donors whose contributions exceeding $25 million have profoundly shaped the university and its mission.
Hamm’s support has been instrumental in transforming the OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center into a national leader in diabetes research. Since its founding endowment, the center’s NIH research funding has increased from $5 million to $33 million, with expanded research facilities and a growing network of scientists advancing the fight against diabetes.
KEY QUOTES
“Dr. Anette-Gabriele Ziegler’s groundbreaking research is transforming the future of Type 1 diabetes. Dr. Ziegler’s work is turning hope into reality, giving families more time, more answers and more reasons to believe that a cure is within reach. This is exactly why this prize was created – to recognize and accelerate game-changing discoveries that make a real difference in the lives of those battling diabetes. What a tremendous evening it was celebrating her remarkable contributions and the incredible progress we’ve made at the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center toward ending diabetes once and for all.”
Harold Hamm, Founder of the Harold Hamm International Prize and Chairman & CEO, Continental Resources Inc.
“Dr. Ziegler’s vision and dedication have not only deepened our understanding of Type 1 diabetes but also led to new ways of helping patients by delaying the disease’s onset. Her work shows how science and compassion can come together to make a real difference in people’s lives. We’re honored to celebrate her for her remarkable contributions to diabetes research and her lasting impact on public health.”
Jed Friedman, Ph.D., Director, OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center
“Because of Mr. Hamm’s steadfast commitment to the OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, we are making extraordinary progress in confronting the diabetes crisis. Few individuals have left such an enduring mark on the health and well-being of our state. His philanthropy reflects not only deep compassion, but also a profound belief in the power of discovery to save lives.”
Joseph Harroz Jr., President, University of Oklahoma
