Bill & Dee Brehm

For Bill and Dee Brehm, the quest to find a cure for type 1 diabetes was deeply personal.

In 2000, during a quiet evening at their home in McLean, Virginia, Dee Brehm turned to her husband Bill and said simply, “You can find a cure.” Bill paused before replying, “Okay.” That conversation would shape the next chapter of their lives and ultimately help transform diabetes research at the University of Michigan and beyond.

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1949, Dee lived with the disease for more than seven decades, enduring countless insulin injections and blood sugar tests while remaining free from many of the severe complications often associated with long-term diabetes. Together, Bill and Dee approached the challenge with the same determination, optimism, and collaborative spirit that defined their lives and careers.

Bill Brehm, a University of Michigan alumnus and successful entrepreneur, built a distinguished career in systems analysis, public service, and information technology before co-founding SRA International. Throughout his career, he believed deeply in the power of innovation, teamwork, and strategic thinking to solve complex problems — principles he later applied to advancing diabetes research.

Driven by Dee’s experience living with type 1 diabetes, Bill and Dee devoted their time, energy, and philanthropy to accelerating progress toward better treatments and, ultimately, a cure. They believed scientific discovery could move faster through greater collaboration across research, clinical care, technology, and data science.

Their vision led to transformative support for diabetes research at the University of Michigan, including their historic $44 million gift announced in 2004 to advance type 1 diabetes research and care. Their generosity helped establish the Brehm Center and continues to support groundbreaking work focused on improving the lives of people living with diabetes.

Delores “Dee” Brehm passed away on April 3, 2022 at the age of 91, and Bill Brehm passed away on July 30, 2025 at age 96. Their legacy lives on through the countless researchers, clinicians, trainees, patients, and families whose lives continue to be impacted by their extraordinary vision, compassion, and commitment to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes.