The Hospital for Sick Children | learning | News

Maureen Dennis – “the leading child neuropsychologist in North America” – receives lifetime achievement award

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 24:00:00 EST

Maureen Dennis has been given the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Neuropsychological Society. She will receive the award Feb. 15 during the annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society (INS) in Montreal.

Baruchel recently awarded prestigious French order

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 24:00:00 EST

Philippe Zeller presents Dr. Sylvain Baruchel with the Chevalier de l ‘Ordre National de la legion D‘ honneur

Dr. Sylvain Baruchel was recently named a Chevalier de l ‘Ordre National de la legion D‘ honneur, the highest designation given by his native country, France and equivalent to the Order of Canada. The French Ambassador in Canada, Philippe Zeller presented Baruchel with this award. It was Zeller’s first official visit to Toronto. Baruchel, a physician, researcher and professor was given this award for his research and education in the fields of AIDS and cancer over the last 30 years and his work to improve the self esteem of teens living with cancer.

Founder of the innovative Tip of the Toes Foundation, Baruchel started an initiative to take teens with cancer on expeditions in the wilderness. Baruchel has also done work in France and in Canada to raise awareness and combat the stigmatization of patients with AIDS or cancer.

Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Hall of Fame welcomes Mary Jo Haddad

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 24:00:00 EST

The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is proud to announce that its President and CEO, Mary Jo Haddad, has been inducted into the Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Hall of Fame.

SickKids photo book now on sale

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 24:00:00 EST

A History of Healing ($69.99) is a limited edition - purchase your copy at the 5 Fifty 5 Shop or online.

Leader in education will head Learning Institute

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 24:00:00 EST

Dr. Jonathan Kronick, MD, PhD, has been appointed as SickKids’ Chief of Education, effective February 6, 2012.

Dr. Kronick has been involved in education throughout his career. He received the Canadian Paediatric Society's 2011 Michel Weber Education Award which recognizes excellence in the field of education. He is currently a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Dalhousie University in Halifax NS and served as Dalhousie’s Head of Pediatrics and as Chief of Pediatrics at IWK Health Centre from 2002 to 2010. He received both his medical and doctorate degrees at McMaster University and holds a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Waterloo. Dr. Kronick’s clinical work will be in the Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics.

“I am absolutely thrilled that Dr. Kronick has chosen to join SickKids,” said Mary Jo Haddad, President and CEO. “His experience and understanding of the paediatric academic health-care environment will be a wonderful asset as we continue to build our innovative and progressive Learning Institute, advancing the overall educational mission of SickKids.”

Dr. Kronick will replace Dr. Susan Tallett, who retired as Chief of Education in September. The Learning Institute is currently headed by Dr. Stanley Zlotkin, Vice President, Medical and Academic Affairs, who serves as Interim Chief, Education.

SickKids named Most Admired Corporate Culture

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 24:00:00 EST

The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is thrilled to announce it has been named one of Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures for 2011.

Greater Toronto's Top Employers for 2012

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 24:00:00 EST

We are proud to announce that SickKids has been named one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers for 2012 by Mediacorp Canada, as well as being one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2012.

Science Rocks!

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 24:00:00 EST

Café Scientifique weighs in on childhood obesity in Canada

SickKids scientists were the headliners at the Hard Rock Café Toronto on Tuesday, November 7, where community members gathered to take part in Café Scientifique: Tipping the Scales – Weighing the Health Impacts of Obesity on Canadian kids.

The community based discussion focused on the causes, prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. Dr. Catherine Birken kicked off the conversation with revealing statistics that obesity rates among Canadian children have almost tripled in the last 25 years, meaning approximately 26 per cent of kids aged 2-17 are overweight or obese, according to The Childhood Obesity Foundation. Through the TARGet Kids! program, her research group aims to identify prevalence, predictors, outcomes, and effective strategies for prevention of overweight and obesity in children under five.

Dr. Jill Hamilton added to the tune with her research on the health risks associated with obesity. She works to understand the physiology of children with obesity and the trajectory of weight gain. Hamilton also discussed a group of children who have suffered from a specific type of brain tumour called craniopharyngioma. About half of these kids develop very serious weight gain because the tumours are often located right near the appetite centre of the brain and the site that regulates body weight.

As soon as the speakers concluded, the moderator, Mohamed Awad, Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs managed the questions that flooded in until the end of the evening. This Café attracted a broad group of people who were engaged in the discussion and offered their varied perspectives on childhood obesity.

This Café Scienitifique reflects SickKids dedication to tackling childhood obesity and our ongoing commitment to Healthier Children. A Better World. By facilitating community based discussions, through Café Scientifique, SickKids engages in knowledge translation of child health issues.

Planning is underway for the next Café Scientifique to be held in the summer. Be sure to sign up for to receive notifications of our upcoming Café Scientifique’s by sending an email to: cafe.scientifique@sickkids.ca

By Daniel Puatti

SickKids named one of Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 24:00:00 EDT

Research Infosource released the inaugural list of Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals, and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is number three. The list, based on research income generation, highlights the important role that hospitals play in Canada's research ecosystem.

SickKids, third on the list, is the number one income generating paediatric research hospital in Canada. At SickKids, research discoveries in children’s health are guided by our vision Healthier Children. A Better World. Through collaboration, SickKids brings research from the bench to the bedside and into the backyard, making SickKids a leader in children’s health research and innovation.

“I am delighted that SickKids was named as one of the Top 40 Research Hospitals in Canada,” said Janet Rossant, SickKids Chief of Research. “The ranking reflects our collective success in attracting grant funding.”

The total research income for Canada's Top 40 Research Hospitals was $2.1 billion in the 2010 fiscal year, up 7.2 per cent from 2009. According to Canada's Top 40 Research Hospitals List 2011, research income includes all internal and external government and non-government sources.

Check out the full list of Canada's Top 40 Research Hospitals on the Research Infosource website.

SickKids wins top employer designation

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 24:00:00 EDT

The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is proud to have been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2012 by Mediacorp Canada Inc.

Schachter awarded Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art First Class

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 24:00:00 EDT

Dr. Harry Schachter was recently awarded The Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art First Class, a prestigious state designation from his birth country, Austria. A world-leader in the field of glycobiology, Schachter was honoured for his scientific achievements in glycobiology and most notably for his collaboration with scientists at BOKU: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. He was presented with the Cross at Glyco 21 held in Vienna from August 21 to 26, the 21st International Symposium on Glycoconjugates that brings together glycobiologists from around the world.

Schachter was born in Vienna in 1933. His father, a dentist, loved the arts and culture of the city, especially the opera. However, as a politically astute man, he foresaw the future for Jewish people in Vienna and moved his family out of the city he loved to Trinidad in September 1938. This was just a few weeks before Kristallnacht – the Night of Broken Glass, a night of terror for many of the remaining Jewish people in Europe.

Schachter did not return to Vienna until the 1980s. He was invited by Dr. Leopold März , a biochemist starting a Glycobiology Department at BOKU University, who eventually became Chancellor (“Rektor”) of the University. He sought Schachter’s advice and assistance in launching the new department. Over the years, Schachter and his wife Judy became very close friends of März and his wife and returned many times – both on personal visits and for professional collaboration. For Judy, who survived the war in Slovakia, hearing someone speaking German had become traumatizing. By being around Schachter’s professional connections and establishing personal friendships that trauma eventually faded away. Schachter continued his collaboration with BOKU and the field of glycolobiology in Austria throughout his career.

Although the Cross is awarded by the Austrian government, März played a large role in ensuring that Schachter’s name was put forward. In his presentation speech, Josef Glößl, the current Vice-Rektor of BOKU, not only spoke about Schachter’s science but also discussed the events in Austria starting in the late 1930s. Schachter and other Jewish scientists present at Glyco 21 were very touched by this acknolwedgement.

“They gave the award for my science, but I could not separate what happened in the 1930s from my receipt of this award,” said Schachter. “Glößl’s speech was very moving.”

Scientific Consortium awarded $34 million from the National Institutes of Health

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 24:00:00 EDT

The Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics, a research facility of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), will benefit from grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH announced $34million in grants to the DTCC Consortium, which is formed by the Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics, University of California Davis, Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, and Charles River Laboratories. The money will be used to fund the Consortium’s participation in the second phase of the NIH Knockout Mouse Project (KOMP2).

“In this consortium, we have assembled world experts in mouse stem cell biology, genetics, breeding, and phenotype analysis, who are dedicated to ensuring the successful outcome of KOMP2, on-time and on-budget,” says Dr. Kent Lloyd from the University of California Davis, Principal Investigator and Project Director of the DTCC KOMP2 project.

Researchers use knockout mouse models because 94% of genes in mice have a similar gene in humans. A knockout mouse is a research model in which a specific gene has been disrupted. The resulting loss of the gene’s function can often be linked to a change in phenotype (observable characteristics such as appearance, behavior or biological function). These observations can help researchers determine which genes are linked to certain normal biological functions or disease. “To understand how our genes function normally and in disease, we will study the developmental problems and diseases in unique animal models that have different abnormal or mutated genes,” says Dr. Colin McKerlie, Senior Associate Scientist at SickKids and a Co-PI on the grant. “This will enable us to determine the effect of each mutation and whether the gene or the protein it produces could be a target for drugs or be used to diagnose disease. This support from NIH leverages our capabilities and project already funded by Genome Canada in Toronto to have truly international impact.”

KOMP2 is part of a global initiative to create a repository of knockout mouse lines and phenotype data which researchers will then use to develop better models of human diseases such as cancer, heart disease, neurological disorders, diabetes and obesity. The goal of the first phase of the global initiative was to create a mutation in embryonic stem cells for each of the approximately 21 ,000 protein-coding genes in the mouse genome, which would allow researchers to determine the role of each gene in normal physiology and development. KOMP1 successfully completed work on 8,500 genes and the majority of the remaining genes will be completed by scientists in Europe and Canada.

In KOMP2, 2,500 of the mouse embryonic stem cells created in the first phase will be used to establish and breed mouse lines which will then be phenotyped. All of the mouse lines and phenotype data will be accessible to researchers around the globe. Model creation and phenotyping expertise will be provided by the University of California Davis, Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics, and Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute; Charles River will provide large-scale production expertise for the mouse models.

Northbridge Financial Corporation Chair to tackle little known disease

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 24:00:00 EDT

By Daniel Puiatti

The rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are rising among children and adolescents, particularly in Ontario, and thanks to a $2 million donation from Northbridge Financial Corporation, SickKids now has a new chair to help tackle this relatively misunderstood and unknown spectrum of diseases, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Taking great panes to build The Tower

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 24:00:00 EDT

By Daniel Puiatti

The Research & Learning Tower is undergoing another transformation this week. The outer glass ‘curtain walls’ are being installed on the second and third floors of the Tower on the corner of Bay and Elm Streets.

FASD Awareness Day

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 24:00:00 EDT

Nine months to abstain from alcohol

Can pregnant women drink alcohol? Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) experts don’t know if there is a safe amount at any point in the pregnancy. The safest choice is to not drink while pregnant.

SickKids wins gold for innovative business model

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 24:00:00 EDT

The Hospital for Sick Children’s (SickKids) commitment to innovation has been recognized by the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) with a Gold Award in Innovative Management.

SickKids Expert Alert: Early + Math Skills = Success

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 24:00:00 EDT

Increased technology puts higher demands on kids' math skills

Not too long ago, early literacy indicated academic achievement. Today, it’s early numeracy that is considered a stronger predictor of success in school. The increase of technology and science-based professions has created a greater demand for math skills than there once was.

Researchers map pathway of infection for a common, potentially life-threatening respiratory virus

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 24:00:00 EDT

Finding ends five-decade search

Researchers at the University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), St. Paul’s Hospital and the University of British Columbia have identified a new treatment target for a virus that causes severe lung infections and an estimated 10% of common colds.

The virus, called human respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, is the most common reason for hospitalization of infants and children under two years of age; currently there is no effective therapy or vaccine for it.

“This discovery provides an understanding of the mechanism through which RSV causes infection and offers a target molecule for development of new cell-based therapies,” said the study’s principal investigator Prof. Richard Hegele, Chair and Professor in U of T’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology who is also Chief of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine at SickKids.

The research is published in the current edition of the journal Nature Medicine.

The researchers found that RSV interacts with healthy cells by binding with a molecule located on the surface of those cells called nucleolin. By manipulating the function of nucleolin in cell culture, they were able to decrease RSV infection or increase susceptibility to it.

In mice, the researchers showed that disruption of lung nucleolin was associated with significantly reduced RSV infection, confirming that the molecule is a viable therapeutic target.

“While other factors may influence the frequency and severity of RSV infections, our results indicate that the presence of nucleolin on the cell surface is sufficient for RSV to successfully infect cells,” said Hegele. “We can now pursue strategies designed to block the interaction of RSV with cell surface nucleolin, the idea being to find approaches that will safely and effectively halt infection by preventing RSV from entering the cell in the first place.”

Researchers have been searching for a receptor for RSV for over five decades.

“This is a long-awaited and much-needed discovery that will help researchers develop new therapies for this disease, which has a large global burden, primarily affecting young children and other vulnerable populations,” said Dr. David Marchant, a research associate at UBC’s James Hogg iCAPTURE Centre at St. Paul’s Hospital, and co-lead on the study. “What is especially encouraging is that there is already a lot of ground work done in terms of understanding the biology of nucleolin to treat other ailments like cancer. The discovery of the RSV receptor combined with this knowledge could help deliver a potential therapeutic much faster.”

Increasingly, RSV is being recognized as a serious pathogen of the elderly for causing lung infections such as pneumonia. It is also a common cause of middle ear infections and can infect other organ systems, and has been implicated in the onset of asthma and allergy in children. Organ transplant recipients or other individuals whose immune systems are compromised are also at increased risk for serious RSV lung infections.

According to the World Health Organization, the global RSV disease burden is estimated at 64 million cases and 160,000 deaths each year. It is considered the single most important cause of severe respiratory illness in infants and young children.¹
The study was conducted by the following researchers: Richard G. Hegele (University of Toronto Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)); Farnoosh Tayyari and David Marchant (James Hogg iCAPTURE Centre at St. Paul’s Hospital and UBC Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine); Theo J. Moraes (U of T and SickKids); Wenming Duan (SickKids); Peter Mastrangelo (U of T).

Funding for the study was provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of British Columbia.

¹ World Health Organization 2009

Scientists identify two distinct subgroups in common childhood brain cancer

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 24:00:00 EDT

Discovery may impact aggressiveness of current treatments for some infants and children with posterior fossa ependymoma

Government of Ontario invests $75 million in The Research & Learning Tower

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 24:00:00 EDT

Glen Murray, Ontario Minister of Research and Innovation, shares the exciting news.

The Government of Ontario today announced that it is investing $75 million towards The Research & Learning Tower at SickKids.

Study finds new ADHD genes, links susceptibility with autism and other neuropsychiatric conditions

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 24:00:00 EDT

TORONTO – New research led by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and the University of Toronto has identified more genes in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and shows that there is an overlap between some of these genes and those found in other neuropsychiatric conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study is published in the August 10 advance online edition of Science Translational Medicine.

Largest Canadian IBD study uncovers gene associated with ulcerative colitis

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 24:00:00 EDT

TORONTO – For as long as seven-year-old Jonathan Wexler can remember, he has taken sweet orange medicine every day to manage his ulcerative colitis symptoms. When he was only eight months old, Jonathan became the youngest patient to be diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

New research questions automatic removal of children living in grow ops

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 24:00:00 EDT

TORONTO – Children living in drug-producing homes may not be exposed to the alarming health risk widely believed to exist, according to new research from the Motherisk Program at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). The researchers found the majority of children removed from these homes were healthy and drug free. The research is published in the July 25 advance online edition of the Journal of Pediatrics.

SickKids researchers honoured with Early Researcher Awards

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 24:00:00 EDT

Today, the Hon. Glen Murray, Ontario’s Minister of Research & Innovation, recognized the Toronto researchers benefitting from this year’s Ontario Research Fund and Early Researcher Awards (ERA). Drs. Brian Ciruna and Jennifer Stinson from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) were among those to receive Early Researcher Awards.

“We’re proud of the exceptional work our Toronto researchers do. Their contributions are making the world a better place, starting right here with new ideas and jobs, which fuel job creation and economic growth, and our government is proud to support them,” said Glen Murray, Minister of Research and Innovation.

Ciruna and Stinson are among 334 emerging researchers and their teams from 19 institutions across Ontario to receive Early Researcher Awards.

Ciruna, a Scientist in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology at SickKids and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto, received his ERA funding for his project Determining the underlying cause of polycystic kidney disease. Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) affects one in 500 people. The current treatment options include dialysis or transplants, both of which are costly. At SickKids, Ciruna and his team are studying what causes PKD, which could, in turn, lead to new and more effective treatments.

Stinson, a Scientist in Child Health Evaluative Sciences and a Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Practitioner in Anaesthesia at SickKids and Assistant Professor in the Department of Nursing at the University of Toronto, received her ERA funding for her project The use of e-health technologies to promote paediatric disease self-management. Children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses such as arthritis and cancer suffer from pain that is often under-appreciated and under-treated by doctors. Stinson and her team at SickKids are developing web-based technologies to help young people manage their own pain and improve their quality of life.

The Early Researcher Award (ERA) program helps promising, recently-appointed Ontario researchers build their research teams of undergraduates, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research assistants, associates and technicians. The goal of the program is to improve Ontario’s ability to attract and retain the best and brightest research talent.

For a full list of winners and to read the news release from the Ministry of Research & Innovation, visit their website.

The Scientist magazine ranks SickKids #7 on international list of best places to work in academia

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 24:00:00 EDT

The award-winning life sciences magazine, The Scientist, announced the winners of its 9th annual Best Places to Work in Academia competition on July 1, 2011 and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) was named #7 internationally.

SickKids is one of three Canadian centres to be honoured with this award; Dalhousie University ranked fourth and the University of Alberta ranked eighth.

Readers of The Scientist were invited to complete an online survey and assess their workplace based on job satisfaction, peers, infrastructure and environment, research resources, pay, management and policies, teaching and mentoring and lastly, tenure and promotion.

SickKids scored in the 67th percentile with 3.82 out of five. SickKids scored highest in infrastructure and environment, and research resources. The survey found that in both small and large institutions, researchers valued a productive yet fun and casual atmosphere to conduct their research.

“Collaboration was a recurring theme among this year’s top-ranked institutions,” said The Scientist editor Jef Akst in a news release. “It’s clear that scientists value the accessibility of fruitful partnerships to enhance their research.”

The Research & Learning Tower continues to climb on the corner of Bay and Elm streets and embodies the notion of collaboration. “The Tower will be a magnet to attract and retain the best researchers from around the world to make a difference in the health of children everywhere,” says Dr. Janet Rossant, Chief of Research at SickKids. “It should keep SickKids on the list of best places to work for a long time to come."

SickKids researchers take innovative approaches to tackle global paediatric health problems

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 24:00:00 EDT

Millions of infants die each year in developing regions of the world that lack advanced technologies commonly found in Canadian hospitals. Two research teams led by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have come up with innovative proposals to test the effectiveness of portable, low-cost technologies to improve maternal and infant survival in low-income countries.

Dr. Daniel Roth, Staff Physician in the Division of Paediatric Medicine at SickKids and Dr. Diego G. Bassani, Epidemiologist, in the Division of Paediatric Medicine and SickKids International are among 19 recent recipients of Canada’s Rising Stars in Global Health grants from Grand Challenges Canada, announced on June 29, 2011. The Rising Star awards are among the first grants given to Canadian researchers by Grand Challenges Canada, a non-profit organization funded from the Government of Canada’s foreign aid budget through the Development Innovation Fund.

Pulse oximetry, an everyday tool used in modern paediatric practice, has been called the fifth vital sign. The technology provides a precise measure of a patient’s blood-oxygen saturation and alerts health-care providers if a patient has a lack of adequate oxygen circulating in the blood. At any given moment, pulse oximetry is being used to assess and monitor children at SickKids.

“Initial signs of severe illness in newborns are often subtle and early recognition is critical to introducing life-saving therapy,” says Roth who is also Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. “Objective, standardized methods are needed to rapidly and accurately identify sick infants in resource-poor countries. When we think about technologies that are low-cost, portable, non-invasive and give an accurate answer within seconds, pulse oximetry is the obvious tool to consider.”

With partners from the Department of Pediatrics at the Aga Khan University in Pakistan, Roth will study the integration of pulse oximetry into the routine assessment of young infants presenting to primary health clinics in Karachi. Roth’s research will assess if implementation of routine pulse oximetry is feasible and has the potential to improve care delivery and health outcomes among young infants in resource-poor settings.

Bassani’s research will involve using a human-powered fetal heart monitor on pregnant women in Uganda. He will investigate whether the medical device could help reduce infant mortality.

The partnership between Canadian and African researchers will test the innovative, life-saving, low-cost monitor based on the idea that medical devices in developing countries must be rugged, reliable and not dependent on electricity. The crank-operated mechanism will be tested at two sites in Uganda. One minute of winding can power 10 minutes of monitoring.

“A baby’s heart rate is the most important signal of distress in labour. These monitors will come as a substitution to expensive and fragile devices that are largely unavailable in developing countries,” says Bassani who is also Assistant Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. “If successful, large-scale implementation of the fetal heart monitors could reduce infant deaths.”

Fetal heart monitoring has been identified as a top research priority to reduce deaths from birth asphyxia by 2015.

Both researchers say their projects involve the evaluation of simple measures that, if implemented appropriately in low-resource settings, have the potential to save lives and contribute towards reducing mortality in developing countries.

According to Grand Challenges Canada, the Canadian Rising Stars in Global Health program aims to support early career innovators in global health, recognizing the difficulties of early career innovators in securing research funding in global health. Grantees were each awarded $100,000 to pilot-test their ideas; those researchers who are successful in demonstrating proof-of-concept will be eligible to apply for scale-up grants of up to $1 million.

Reduced TV time and computer use alone have little impact on childhood obesity

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 24:00:00 EDT

The number of overweight and obese children is rising, not just in Canada but around the world. Perhaps it’s not surprising that the amount of screen time, or time spent in front of the television or computer, has also increased significantly among children. In Canada, children and youth are getting an average of six hours of screen time per day on weekdays, and seven on weekends. There has been considerable research suggesting that a reduction in screen time will impact outcomes in childhood obesity, but does it?

Up Up and Away! The Research & Learning Tower is on the Rise

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 24:00:00 EDT

On Saturday morning, builders on the SickKids Research & Learning Tower construction site raised one of the large Tower cranes on the site located at Bay and Elm streets. This is another phase in the building process to support The Research & Leaning Tower’s continued rise into the Toronto skyline.

The raising of the crane, also referred to as a crane jump, took eight workers roughly five hours to complete. The height of the crane from the underside of its counter jib, or counter weight, was approximately 29 metres above street level and following the jump, it now stands at 43 metres above street level. The crane will be raised a total of eight times during the construction of The Research & Learning Tower and, with its final elevation, is expected to reach 120 metres.

When the tower is complete, the crane will be dismantled by a derrick crane – a crane used for hoisting and swinging loads horizontally. Sitting on the roof of the tower, the crane will lower pieces down to street level.
For more information on the Tower check out our construction updates or visit our webcam.

For more information on the SickKids Research & Learning Tower or to donate, visit our Tower website.

SickKids announces new Board appointments

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 24:00:00 EDT

Toronto, ON – June 17, 2011 – The Board of Trustees of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Harding as the Chair of the Board, effective June 16, 2011. Mr. Harding joined the Board of Trustees in 2005.

Daneman re-appointed Chair of Paediatrics, U of T, and Paediatrician-in-Chief at SickKids

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 24:00:00 EDT

We are pleased to announce the re-appointment of Dr. Denis Daneman for a second five-year term as Chair of the Department of Paediatrics in the Faculty of Medicine and Paediatrician-in-Chief at SickKids. This is a joint appointment, effective July 1, 2011. Daneman also holds the RS McLaughlin Foundation Chair in Paediatrics.

‘Toronto protocol’ improves survival rates in children at risk for cancer

Tue, 17 May 2011 24:00:00 EDT

Researchers develop new surveillance approach to detect malignant tumours early

Researchers advance microarray technology to improve discovery of copy number variation

Mon, 09 May 2011 24:00:00 EDT

TORONTO - Exploring the vast landscape of the human genome has been crucial in the understanding of human diseases. An international research team led by scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto and Uppsala University in Sweden has described new approaches to discovering copy number variation (CNV) of genes implicated in diseases. The study is published in the May 8 advance online edition of Nature Biotechnology.

Hide-and-seek: Cholesterol masks molecules on cell surfaces

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 24:00:00 EDT

Although it may be better known for its negative artery-hardening properties, an international team of researchers led by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, have found that cholesterol also plays a vital role in hiding molecules on a cell’s surface.

“We knew that glycolipids, which are involved in signaling and cellular recognition, were intriguing molecules,” said Dr. Clifford Lingwood, a study author and Senior Scientist in SickKids’ Molecular Structure and Function Program and a professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto. “Now we know they can be affected by cholesterol, changing how molecules and cells communicate.” The study was published in the April 3 issue of Nature Chemical Biology.

Lingwood points out that cholesterol acts like a cloaking device for cells, and could potentially slow the spread of infectious disease by stopping molecules involved in diseases , such as cholera or E. coli from binding to cells. “If you can hide the cells by changing the cholesterol, then you can make those cells more resistant to pathogens,” says Lingwood. “It’s a very exciting and broad-ranging application of this work.” Other applications could include locating new targets on cells currently masked by cholesterol, for example cancer cells, for treatment of disease.

The team – including scientists from Canada, Finland, Denmark and Germany – began by identifying cholesterol as a key molecule in regulating the appearance of glycolipids on the surface of a cell. Testing showed that cholesterol could hide membrane molecules and reduce the “visibility” of those molecules to others in the system.

To test whether this would also work in a biological body, the team used red blood cells and verotoxin, a toxin created by E. coli. “When we removed cholesterol from the cell membrane, the verotoxin began to bind to the cell’s surface,” says Lingwood. “Clearly, the cholesterol had been masking the binding agent on the cell, hiding it from the verotoxin.”

Considering situations when cholesterol is naturally removed from cells brought the researchers to the idea of sperm maturation. As sperm travels through a woman’s reproductive system, it matures by loss of cholesterol and readies itself to bind to the egg for fertilization. “It’s the same concept, perfectly illustrated in the natural system,” says Lingwood. “When the cholesterol is removed from the sperm cell during the maturation process, it reveals the carbohydrate molecules located on the cell’s surface.”

By finding that a cellular recognition process may be regulated by a simple interaction between cholesterol and glycolipids on a cell’s surface, the team has found a way to control molecular communication at the nanoscale, says Lingwood. “It’s a powerful instrument to add to our cellular toolkit.”

SickKids expert offers wake-up call on childhood sleep disorders

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 24:00:00 EDT

TORONTO – They are often difficult to detect, may cause behavioural issues or affect a child’s performance in school, and if left untreated, could even cause long-term cardiovascular and metabolic problems. While it is sometimes the last thing a parent or doctor would expect, a sleep disorder could be at the root of all of these issues.

Understanding schizophrenia: researchers uncover new underlying mechanism

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 24:00:00 EDT

TORONTO – A new way of thinking about the fundamental pathobiology of schizophrenia could one day lead to improved therapeutic approaches to treating this disorder. Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), the University of Toronto and Tufts University School of Medicine have linked proteins and genes that are implicated in schizophrenia in a novel way. The study is published in the March 27 advance online edition of Nature Medicine.

SickKids-led research projects top Genome Canada’s leader board

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 24:00:00 EDT

Two projects led by researchers from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) were tied for the number one spot when Genome Canada awarded $60 million to the 16 winning projects of the Large-Scale Applied Research Project competition on March 25. This competition is part of Genome Canada’s mandate to fund a wide-range of large-scale genomics research projects through a competitive process.

Coming for surgery? New section prepares families for surgery at SickKids

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 24:00:00 EDT

SickKids has launched a new section for families with children coming to SickKids for surgery. Coming for Surgery, can be found under Visiting SickKids on our website. This section is part of an effort to educate families, and improve pre-operative preparation and efficiency.

The Research & Learning Tower springs up from the ground

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 24:00:00 EDT

SickKids project managers Wayne Walker and Flemming Galberg celebrate in front of the Tower construction site.

Buds are starting to pop up on trees, flowers are beginning to peek out from the ground and this spring something else will be growing on the corner of Bay and Elm Streets. In anticipation of spring’s arrival, the SickKids Research & Learning Tower reached ground level this week. Tower construction will now begin movin’ on up for everyone to see.

Giant strides in childhood disease research

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 24:00:00 EST

Two teams of Canadian researchers, including five from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), were awarded with two grants of up to $2 million jointly from Genome Canada and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) for their work in genome sequencing of childhood diseases. Over the next several years, the teams will focus on translating next-generation sequencing technologies into improved therapies for high-risk, genetic, childhood diseases.

Researchers identify genetic mechanism involved in common urinary tract birth defect

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 24:00:00 EST

TORONTO – In Canada, the most common abnormality found during prenatal ultrasound testing is an enlarged urinary tract in the fetus, occurring in one in every 150 pregnancies. This abnormality is called hydronephrosis. In 20 to 30 per cent of cases it can become a serious medical problem and in extreme cases can lead to infant renal failure. Testing for this defect is often invasive and can be stressful for both the babies and their caregivers. Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have uncovered a mechanism that could be responsible for development of this defect. The study was published in the Feb.21 online edition of The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Researchers focus on children with medical complexity to improve efficiencies in the health-care system

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 24:00:00 EST

TORONTO – In Ontario, children with complex chronic conditions represent only one per cent of the paediatric population, but their impact on the health-care system is substantial, accounting for over 23 per cent of all child health-care spending. Children with medical complexity are those who have many health problems, see several specialists, often need home care and are at risk of being continuously sick. Examples include, but are not limited to, children with complex cardiac disease, autism with severe behavioural concerns or cancer patients with ongoing challenges in multiple areas.

Is digital more patient-friendly than paper? New study says yes

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 24:00:00 EST

Electronic forms may help improve care for kids with chronic conditions

In 2011, it’s the norm to book a vacation, take a course and even order groceries online. The move to a digital “self-serve” model is transforming most industries, including health care, in an effort to be quicker and improve ease of use and accuracy.

SickKids celebrates 60th anniversary on University Avenue

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 24:00:00 EST

The Hospital for Sick Children was founded in 1875. In 1891, when the hospital was located at 67 College St., it was running out of space. Plans for a larger, up-to-date facility were taking shape in 1929 but slowed down due to the Great Depression and World War II.

Health information available in English, French and Chinese

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 24:00:00 EST

AboutKidsHealth.ca now provides current, trusted and evidence-based information about children’s health in French and simplified Chinese. And through a partnership with BC Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of London Health Sciences Centre, IWK Health Centre in Halifax and SickKids, AboutKidsHealth.ca is building a coast-to-coast collaboration in child health information on a wide range of child health topics, from asthma to whooping cough. Spread the word!

It's World Cancer Day

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 24:00:00 EST

The World Health Organization (WHO) marks World Cancer Day each year on Feb. 4 – a perfect day to highlight the developments of the past year in the field of cancer at SickKids.

Early eye removal in children with advanced eye cancer can be lifesaving option compared with chemotherapy

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 24:00:00 EST

TORONTO – Children with the most common paediatric eye cancer fare better when the eye with advanced disease is surgically removed quickly rather than when the tumour is treated with chemotherapy, according to new research. A new study out of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) and Beijing Tongren Hospital shows children treated with chemotherapy before surgery had a higher risk of death because chemotherapy delayed removal of the eye with advanced disease and masked the spread of the disease into the brain. The research is published in the January 31 advance online edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Treatment of vomiting and diarrhea in emergency departments varies across the country

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 24:00:00 EST

In Canada, it is estimated that 239,000 children visit the emergency department every year with vomiting or diarrhea due to an intestinal infection commonly called gastroenteritis. If the vomiting or diarrhea is significant enough, children may develop dehydration. Although the vast majority of children develop only minimal dehydration, in severe cases they may require intravenous treatment and even hospitalization. A multicentre study led by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) evaluated the treatment of paediatric gastroenteritis in Canadian emergency departments and found that clinical practices varied dramatically. While guidelines describe the need to use oral rehydration therapy in all but severe cases, intravenous rehydration is often employed to treat children with lesser degrees of dehydration. The study was published in an advance online edition of Pediatrics on Jan. 24, 2011.

In 2006, Dr. Stephen Freedman, lead author for this study and Physician in the SickKids Departments of Paediatric Emergency Medicine and Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, released a study that showed the use of an anti-vomiting drug called ondansetron in addition to oral rehydration therapy reduces vomiting and the need for intravenous rehydration. Moreover, in October 2010 he found that the appropriate use of ondansetron to prevent the need for intravenous rehydration results in both clinical and economic benefits, annually saving Canadian society an average of $1.72 million. The next logical step was to assess what rehydration therapies are being used by health-care institutions, and to attempt to understand the overuse of intravenous rehydration by Canadian emergency physicians, explains Freedman who is also Associate Scientist at SickKids and Assistant Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto.

This nationwide study focused on children aged three to 48 months in 11 emergency departments and found that 23 per cent of patients suffering from gastroenteritis received intravenous rehydration. More importantly, there was enormous variation between centres in the use of intravenous rehydration, with the most significant predictor of intravenous usage being the emergency department where care was provided. In addition, “patients who received intravenous rehydration at the initial emergency visit were twice as likely to revisit the hospital,” says Freedman who postulates that the use of intravenous rehydration “may have an effect on the caregiver, making the diagnosis seem more severe, and causing the caregiver to believe that another trip to the hospital is necessary.”

According to Freedman, there is a variation in treatment across the country because there is a gap between evidence-based guidelines and clinical practice. Knowledge translation is needed in order to close the gap and enhance rehydration practices.

“Evidence shows that oral rehydration therapy is both clinically and economically advantageous, and should be the standard of care for the vast majority of children with gastroenteritis,” says Freedman. He also explains that continued research into the association between intravenous rehydration and consequent health-care use is warranted.

SickKids cancer research: Top 10 in 2010

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 24:00:00 EST

The top 10 list is out! The Canadian Cancer Society top ten research stories list that is. And two SickKids researchers made the cut. This list highlights the most notable research funded in full or in part by the Canadian Cancer Society.

We’re only going up from here!

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 24:00:00 EST

This week marks the end of excavation at The Research & Learning Tower construction site. This means that all the digging is done and now construction can begin movin’ on up. SickKids broke ground on the construction site, at the corner of Bay and Elm streets, in May 2010 and since then approximately 39 000 CM (cubic metres) of dirt has been displaced. This amount of dirt could fill over 15 Olympic sized swimming pools!

SickKids scientists’ serve more than a refreshing pint at Duggan’s Brewery

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 24:00:00 EST

Personalized medicine was on the menu last night at Duggan’s Brewery where community members gathered to listen to SickKids and University of Toronto experts take part in SickKids Café Scientifique – Personalized Medicine: It’s all about the fit of the genes. By 6 p.m. it was standing room only as Gwen Burrows, director, Strategic Projects, Research Institute, SickKids, and president, Couchiching Institute of Public Affairs got the discussion underway.

Low-income children with IBD are more likely to undergo surgery than their wealthier counterparts

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 24:00:00 EST

TORONTO, January 13, 2010 – Approximately 2,000 Ontario children under the age of 18 suffer from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). New research conducted at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) has found children with IBD from low-income neighbourhoods are 17 per cent more likely to be hospitalized and up to 80 per cent more likely to undergo surgery for Crohn’s than those from high-income neighbourhoods.

Going to all ends to prevent relapse of neural cancers

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 24:00:00 EST

New therapy may reduce risk of cancerous neural tumours returning

TORONTO – Blocking an enzyme that is involved in the regeneration of cancer stem cells may be the key to treating tumours in the brain and other parts of the nervous system, according to a study from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). Paediatric neural tumours – such as brain tumours and neuroblastoma (one of the common cancers of infants and children) – are the leading cause of death in childhood cancer, accounting for up to 40 per cent of deaths. This is invariably due to the tumour’s ability to recur even after aggressive treatment when no visible trace of the tumour remains.

Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine receives $15 million from federal government

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 24:00:00 EST

Regenerative medicine received an important boost today through a significant investment from the Government of Canada. A $15-million grant was awarded to the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM), a University of Toronto-hosted project for which The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is a research partner.

Financial barriers may be increasing the number of visits to the emergency room for kids with asthma

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 24:00:00 EST

Canadian study is the first to identify how challenges related to medication costs affect asthma control in children

A new Canadian study reveals that financial barriers – in the form of sharing asthma medication costs between insurers and families, are contributing to poor asthma control in children.

Mary Jo Haddad recognized as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 24:00:00 EST

Mary Jo Haddad, President and CEO of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), is a recipient of the 2010 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards, in the Public Sector Leaders category. This is the third time Haddad is receiving this honour. She was also recognized in 2007 and 2008.

New guidelines may help health-care providers minimize immunization pain in children

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 24:00:00 EST

A newly-released guideline for pain management during childhood immunization aims to help reduce pain, and ultimately, the fear of needles. A multidisciplinary panel of experts led by Dr. Anna Taddio, Adjunct Scientist and Pharmacist at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Associate Professor in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto, has developed a new evidence-based clinical practice guideline to help doctors, health-care providers and parents reduce the pain and distress of immunization in children. The guidelines are published in the November 22 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Dietary changes may prevent autoimmunity that leads to type 1 diabetes in at-risk babies: NEJM study

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 24:00:00 EST

TORONTO – Changing the diets of babies with high genetic risk for type 1 diabetes protected them from developing the autoimmunity that destroys insulin-producing cells over the first ten years of life. This just-released research data comes from the world’s largest and longest-running type 1 diabetes prevention trial. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Helsinki and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), is published in today’s advance online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

SickKids Pilot Supported by AstraZeneca Award for Innovation

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 24:00:00 EST

SickKids Nurse Practitioners Krista Keilty and Cathy Daniels received the Nurse Practitioners Association of Ontario-AstraZeneca Award for Innovation in Chronic Disease Management, a $5,000 grant supporting a pilot to bring community care to vulnerable children living with asthma, a priority for local Community Health Centres.

SickKids named performance leader

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 24:00:00 EST

From left to right: Dr. Dave Norton (Founder and Director, Palladium Group, Inc.), Aaron Smith (Manager, Strategic Initiatives, SickKids), Irene Blais (Direction, Decision Support, SickKids), Mary Jo Haddad (President and CEO, SickKids), Jeff Mainland (Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Performance,SickKids), Dr. Robert Kaplan (Baker Foundation Professor, Harvard Business School, and Chairman of Professional Practice, Palladium Group, Inc.).

For many years, SickKids has made high performance a priority in the areas of clinical care, research, education and administration. “We pride ourselves in being recognized as one of the top children’s hospitals in the world, and we are pleased to be part of a broader health-care system in Ontario that is focused on performance and accountability,” says Mary Jo Haddad, President and CEO of SickKids.

SickKids Brand Campaign Emphasizes Strength in Unity

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 24:00:00 EST

“Together We Will”calls on community to join doctors, researchers and caregivers to help advance child health

Canadian icons, artists, philanthropists and children have come together to support a new brand campaign for The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). “Together We Will”, the campaign’s theme and tagline, aims to inspire the community to come together with SickKids doctors and researchers to help advance child health care through donations.

SickKids recognized as a health information technology leader for clinical care system

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 24:00:00 EDT

The Hospital for Sick Children’s (SickKids) “big-bang implementation” of a new clinical information system has earned SickKids recognition as one of the most innovative organizations in health care today. SickKids has received an Allscripts 2010 Circle of Excellence Award for demonstrating exceptional outcomes that drive improved care for patients and better business performance.

Daneman receives prestigious award

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 24:00:00 EDT

Dr. Denis Daneman, Paediatrician-in-Chief, has received a prestigious international award from the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes – the ISPAD Prize for Achievement which recognizes outstanding contributions in the areas of science, education or advocacy which have had a major impact on childhood and adolescent diabetes.

Transformational Gift to SickKids Cancer Care, Research, and Education

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 24:00:00 EDT

Believed to be single largest private gift to paediatric cancer in North America, gift will establish the Garron Family Cancer Centre

A transformational gift of $30 million, believed to be the single largest private gift to paediatric cancer in North America, was announced this morning by Mary Jo Haddad, President and CEO of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). The gift will establish the Garron Family Cancer Centre and allow SickKids to help more children survive their cancer diagnosis.

Number of individuals with asthma in Ontario increases

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 24:00:00 EDT

A new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology, led by Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre researcher and Respirologist, Dr. Andrea Gershon and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) researcher, Dr. Teresa To, suggests that there has been a startling increase in the number of people living with asthma in Ontario since 1996.

Use of an anti-vomiting drug for stomach flu patients could save millions of dollars

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 24:00:00 EDT

TORONTO – Stomach flu or gastroenteritis, a common illness in children, can be unpleasant to say the least. Not only do patients experience diarrhea and vomiting, but in cases where children become very dehydrated, they could require intravenous treatment and even hospitalization, causing additional pain for patients and stress for parents. Recent studies suggest the use of an anti-vomiting drug called ondansetron reduces the frequency of vomiting, the need for intravenous rehydration and maybe even hospitalization. A study led by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) published this month in PLoS Medicine shows that there is also a big economic benefit to using the drug.

Clinical research at its best: science helping patients, patients advancing science

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 24:00:00 EDT

SickKids opens new home for clinical research

TORONTO – At only three and a half years old, Jake Da Luz couldn’t walk, because he suffered from pain and limited joint movement. He was diagnosed with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The existing treatments weren’t working, so Jake was invited to participate in a drug trial at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). Nearly two years later, Jake, who is now six, is not only walking, but playing hockey.

Synergy between U of T and SickKids lifts both institutions in the eyes of the world

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 24:00:00 EDT

U of T ranked among world’s top 20 universities

Scientists at the University of Toronto (U of T) and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have made a major scientific advancement in (insert area of study here).

If there’s a research breakthrough at SickKids those are likely the first words you’ll see or hear in media reports. When great minds get together, good things happen!

Toronto database for genomic medicine extends global reach

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 24:00:00 EDT

TORONTO – This week marks the launch of the Database of Genomic Variants archive (DGVa) – a public resource that will facilitate the translation of genetic information into new diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic tools for improved human health. DGVa was created by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) in collaboration with the University of Toronto’s McLaughlin Centre and The Centre for Applied Genomics (TCAG) at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). The new database is announced in the latest online edition of Nature Genetics.

Toronto scientists discover novel laser technique that could lead to near-scarless surgery

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 24:00:00 EDT

TORONTO – Wounds heal after surgery, but often the size of the scar can impact a patient in a variety of ways long after the operation. Large scars not only result in cosmetic deformities, but they can also create discomfort and cause long-term psychological stress and unhappiness. Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and the University of Toronto have found a novel laser technique that could significantly reduce scarring after surgery. The study appears in the September 28 online edition of PLoS ONE.

Oh Baby … Motherisk turns 25!

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 24:00:00 EDT

SickKids program celebrates a quarter-century of empowering pregnant women and protecting babies around the world

Link to autism in boys found in missing DNA

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 24:00:00 EDT

New research from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), both in Toronto, Canada provides further clues as to why Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects four times more males than females. The scientists discovered that males who carry specific alterations of DNA on the sole X-chromosome they carry are at high risk of developing ASD. The research is published in the September 15 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

SickKids scientists find new types of brain cancer

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 24:00:00 EDT

Medulloblastoma is actually four different cancers – gender- and age- specific

TORONTO – A landmark international study led by scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), has added a new dimension to the understanding of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant type of childhood brain tumour.

Accelerating the search for new cancer therapies: SickKids scientists find new twist on drug screening to treat common childhood cancer

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 24:00:00 EDT

TORONTO – A study led by scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) reveals a new method of identifying drugs to treat children suffering from fatal cancers for which an effective treatment has not been found. Rather than developing a new drug from scratch, which is a complicated and time-consuming process, they tried a different approach: in the lab, they tested existing drugs on cancer stem cells from young patients with neuroblastoma, one of the common cancers of infants and children. Cancer stem cells are the very cells that scientists suspect are responsible for relapses. The study is published in the August 18 advance online edition of EMBO Molecular Medicine.

The idea of repurposing existing medications is not new, but testing them on the cells isolated directly from children and that are thought to be responsible for the spread and regrowth of their tumours is novel. According to the study’s principal investigator, Dr. David Kaplan, there is an urgent need to develop new treatments for neuroblastoma. Less than 40 per cent of patients over the age of one survive this cancer, and the disease usually relapses, aggressively spreading or metastasizing to other parts of the body.

“We conducted our drug discovery by targeting the cells that we think are responsible for the cancer coming back,” says Kaplan, Senior Scientist at SickKids and Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto. “This is a new way of developing drugs for kids, as we are taking the patients’ own cancer stem cells and testing them in the lab.”

The team, led by Dr. Kristen Smith, postdoctoral fellow in Kaplan’s laboratory, had two main goals in this project: to eliminate the cancer cells and to do this without harming healthy cells. Since cancer therapies like chemotherapy kill good cells along with the bad, striking this delicate balance – even in adult cancers – can be challenging. This risk of toxicity is amplified in children, whose growing bodies are particularly vulnerable to the side-effects of powerful treatments, which can result in developmental problems and a higher risk of developing cancers as adults. As a result, some drugs that are proven to effectively treat cancer in adults cannot be used in children, leaving few options for some young patients.

Neuroblastoma, a solid tumour found outside the brain in the nervous system, is the most frequent cause of disease-related death in children.

The research team identified two drugs, DECA-14, a version of an antibiotic that is found in some mouthwashes, and rapamycin, a drug that is used to prevent organ rejection in children who have received transplants. Both medications were found to be effective in treating mice with neuroblastoma and were non-toxic to the normal stem cells from children.

The researchers were able to begin a clinical trial much faster than if a new drug was being developed since one of the therapies, rapamycin, had already been proven to be safe in children, with established protocols that outline the quantity and frequency of treatment. On the basis of this study, a SickKids-led North American Phase I clinical trial is already underway in collaboration with CHU Sainte-Justine in Montreal, as well as two centres in the US. The trial will evaluate rapamycin in combination with the chemotherapy drug vinblastine, for paediatric solid tumours. This trial is led by Dr. Sylvain Baruchel, Staff Oncologist and Senior Associate Scientist at SickKids and Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto, who was also a collaborator on this study.

If the clinical trial shows positive results, this could be the beginning of a personalized medicine approach, Kaplan says. “Our dream is that children will come to SickKids, we’ll isolate their cancer stem cells, screen them with libraries of drugs and find out whether Patient A will respond to Therapy B.”

This research was funded by the Stem Cell Network in partnership with the James Fund for Neuroblastoma Research, and Solving Kids’ Cancer. This study was also supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute, Lilah’s Fund, Shania's Sunflower of Hope, Sam's Day, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, the Terry Fox Research Institute, and the McLaughlin Centre and SickKids Foundation.

When the new SickKids Research & Learning Tower opens its doors, Kaplan’s lab will be relocated to the Cancer, Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine neighbourhood. The shared resources and close proximity to colleagues in other scientific disciplines will encourage novel ideas and may result in collaborations between researchers who may not otherwise interact.

Slippery DNA holds clues to fighting diseases that progress with age: SickKids study

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 24:00:00 EDT

Web cam gives bird’s eye view of Tower construction

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 24:00:00 EDT

A newly-installed web cam is offering a bird’s eye view on the construction of SickKids’ new Research & Learning Tower at the corner of Bay and Elm streets. The camera produces an image that’s updated every two seconds.

Cystic fibrosis now seen as a disease affecting many ethnicities

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 24:00:00 EDT

SickKids-led study proves there is ethnic diversity among North American patients

Cystic fibrosis (CF) has long been thought of by most people as a disease affecting only Caucasians. While some experts asserted this was not the case, they did not have the data to correct this misconception. Now they do.

The Big Dig

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 24:00:00 EDT

Construction of SickKids’ new Research & Learning Tower is well under way at the corner of Bay and Elm streets. The groundbreaking ceremony took place May 4 at 11 a.m., and digging started just hours later. According to schedule, the new home for scientists and educators at SickKids will be ready for occupancy in August, 2013.

Doctors can influence when parents wean children from bottle study finds

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 24:00:00 EDT

Prolonged bottle-feeding is linked to tooth decay, obesity and iron deficiency, and once children turn two, they don’t want to give it up

TORONTO - Family doctors and paediatricians can influence when parents wean their children from the bottle, thereby helping to reduce tooth decay, obesity and iron deficiency, according to a new study by researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

Impact of HPV infection of the airway measured for the first time

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 24:00:00 EDT

TORONTO – For the first time, the scope and devastating impact of the human papilloma virus (HPV) infection of the airway in children has been measured, according to a new population study from the University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

SickKids President & CEO Appointed to the Order of Canada

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 24:00:00 EDT

Toronto - The Board of Trustees and Senior Management Team at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto are delighted that Mary Jo Haddad, President & CEO of SickKids has been appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. The announcement was made earlier today by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada.

New Chief Financial Officer joining SickKids

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 24:00:00 EDT

Denise Arsenault will be joining SickKids as Chief Financial Officer and Vice-President, Finance, effective July 12, 2010. Arsenault will replace Angela Holtham, who is retiring after eight years at the Hospital.

New genetic findings expected to accelerate autism testing and development of treatments

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 24:00:00 EDT

Results of International Autism Genome Project - Phase 2 are unveiled

TORONTO – Canadian and international scientists have uncovered key changes in DNA in individuals with autism. The Phase 2 results of the multinational Autism Genome Project Consortium published in the June 9 advance online edition of Nature, substantiate the importance of genes as susceptibility factors in autism spectrum disorders.

Remembering Dr. Robert Salter

Tue, 11 May 2010 24:00:00 EDT

Dr. Robert Bruce Salter, world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon, researcher, professor, humanitarian and “medical giant” whose pioneering work has impacted millions of people around the world, died May 10 at the age of 85. Dr. Salter was born in Stratford, Ontario on December 15, 1924.

SickKids invited kids of all ages to a “Science Rendezvous”

Mon, 10 May 2010 24:00:00 EDT

Going through obstacle courses, tying intricate knots and checking out bugs – this may sound like a regular day at summer camp, but it was actually an interactive science fair, SickKids-style!

New Kid on the Block

Tue, 04 May 2010 24:00:00 EDT

SickKids announces the most ambitious capital redevelopment plan in its 135-year history

Toronto – The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) today announced the details of the $400 million, 21-storey, 750,000 square foot Research & Learning Tower to be built at the corner of Bay and Elm Streets; bringing together the 2,000 scientists and staff of SickKids Research Institute. The Tower is slated to be completed by 2013. Designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc. with HDR Inc., the world-class facility will achieve LEED® Gold Certification – setting the standard for energy efficiency and sustainable infrastructure in Toronto’s Discovery District. The construction contract to build the Tower was awarded to Ellis Don Corporation.

SickKids celebrates Earth Day

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 24:00:00 EDT

It's easy being green. Just ask Rana Alhegagi, 9, a patient at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). She was the lucky child chosen to take part in a tree-planting ceremony to commemorate Earth Day's 40th Anniversary earlier this afternoon. "Going green is fun," says Alhegagi. "I've never planted a tree before. I'm so excited."

SickKids exhibit gives voice to youth from Toronto’s at-risk neighbourhoods

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 24:00:00 EDT

My Dream project highlights students’ needs and aspirations

SickKids signs historic partnership to develop state-of-the-art children’s hospital in Qatar

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 24:00:00 EST

TORONTO –The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) has partnered with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in Qatar to advise on the creation of a brand new, state-of-the-art children’s hospital in the Middle East.

AboutKidsHealth receives $4.5 million from the Government of Canada

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 24:00:00 EST

At a special ceremony earlier today, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced the Government of Canada would contribute $4.5 million over three years to AboutKidsHealth.

The Sweet Side of Pain Management

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 24:00:00 EST

Just a drop or two of sugar water (sucrose) really does go a long way in reducing pain in infants, who are exposed to pricks and pokes and more during their hospital stay. That’s according to researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). Using sucrose is the most frequently studied non-drug approach to managing pain in infants and now SickKids researchers have compiled the most comprehensive analysis of the data yet. The study is in published in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 1.

Family-centred Sears Cancer Clinic offers SickKids patients and families a new place to call their own

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 24:00:00 EST

New clinic features vibrant spaces and allows for improved patient flow

TORONTO – Children dealing with cancer and serious blood diseases spend a great deal of their young lives visiting the hospital. Ten-year-old Tobin Haas knows this all too well. When he was only two years old he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. It was treated but then grew back; last summer a routine MRI revealed Tobin had relapsed again and the cancer had spread to Tobin’s spine. Tobin has endured surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and countless hospital visits.

Fold up the genetic “roadmap”: SickKids researchers unveil “GPS” to navigate human genome

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 24:00:00 EDT

TORONTO – Exploring the vast landscape of the human genome has been crucial in the understanding of human diseases. Scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and an international research team have made a major scientific advancement in the study of the genome. The researchers have developed the most comprehensive map yet of genetic variation. The study is published in the Oct. 7 advance online edition of Nature.

SickKids takes learning to a higher level with launch of Learning Institute

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 24:00:00 EDT

TORONTO – Medical science is evolving at an exponential rate, while clinicians are treating more and more patients with complex conditions that require the expertise and management of multiple health-care providers. Top professionals are constantly learning and refining their skills in order to stay abreast of the latest developments.

SickKids scientists discover a potential treatment for a previously untreatable bone cancer

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 24:00:00 EDT

TORONTO – While recent advancements in cancer research have led to longer survival rates, there are still some cancers that are not responsive to existing treatments. Chondrosarcoma, a rare bone cancer that develops in the bone cartilage, is one of the cancers that is not effectively treated with chemotherapy. Scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Mount Sinai Hospital and the University of Toronto have found a novel approach to treating this disease.

Battling the bulge?

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 24:00:00 EDT

SickKids scientists find the immune system weighs heavily in reducing the health risks of obesity and Type 2 diabetes

Do you want to spit for science?

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 24:00:00 EDT

SickKids researchers invite kids to be part of a massive science project – by spitting in a tube at the Ontario Science Centre

SickKids part of $6.4 million research grant

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 24:00:00 EDT

SickKids researcher, Dr. Philip Sherman, is part of a major $6.4 million grant from Ontario Research Fund announced June 23 by the Ministry of Research and Innovation.

Sherman, SickKids Senior Scientist, Cell Biology, at the Research Institute and Staff Gastroenterologist, is part of a collaborative project that aims to treat debilitating diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by developing new biological materials that can repair and regenerate damaged tissues. Sherman is also a Professor of Paediatrics, Microbiology and Dentistry at the University of Toronto, a Canada Research Chair in Gastrointestinal Disease and a Scientific Director with the Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes at CIHR.

The project, led by Dr. Michael Sefton of the University of Toronto, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, is titled Therapeutic biomaterials for regenerative medicine. The total SickKids’ budget for this project is $2.9 million.

The research, a partnership with Toronto-based company Rimon Therapeutics Ltd., is based on using “therapeutic polymers” called Theramers™ which have biological activity and can be used to repair and regenerate diseased tissues without the use of cells, drugs or soluble factors. Such materials, regulated as devices, have potentially a shorter time to market than devices with cells or drugs.

The grant is part of the provincial government’s investment of $42 million to support the work of 15 Toronto-based research projects and more than 100 researchers. It is part of the government’s $94 million province-wide investment to support 31 world-class research projects and more than 300 researchers in seven communities across Ontario.

The research grant from Ontario Research Fund also supports SickKids’ researchers working with the Ontario Pre-Clinical Imaging Consortium project led by Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. The collaborators for this project are Dr. Mark Henkelman, Director, Mouse Imaging Centre, and Senior Scientist, Physiology & Experimental Medicine with the Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics (TCP), and also Professor, Medical Biophysics and Medical Imaging at University of Toronto; and Dr. John Sled, Scientist, Physiology & Experimental Medicine at the Research Institute, and Assistant Professor, Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto. The total SickKids’ budget for this project is $1.5 million.

To read more about the announcement please visit the Ministry of Research and Innovation website.

SickKids doctors to address the UN this week

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 24:00:00 EDT

Doctors coordinate an international network to reduce the adverse effects of Sickle Cell Disease around the world

The United Nations has declared this Friday, June 19, 2009 the first-ever Sickle Cell Anaemia Awareness Day, and two leading physicians from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) will mark the occasion by speaking to international leaders about recent initiatives to reduce the effects of sickle cell disease (also known as sickle cell anaemia) around the world.

SickKids receives over $6.4 million dollars in CFI funding to support leading researchers

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 24:00:00 EDT

TORONTO – Dr. Janet Rossant, Chief of Research at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto, welcomed the $6,476,707 investment announced today by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). This funding will advance two innovative projects led by SickKids scientists.

Motherisk broadens international scope and delivers safety messages to more pregnant moms worldwide

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 24:00:00 EDT

The Motherisk Program’s mission is simple: to safely treat the mother without hurting the baby. Based at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), the program is widely recognized as the pre-eminent international centre for the study of the safety or risk of medications during pregancy and breastfeeding. The program also offers a call centre for parents to obtain advice and address any concerns related to these exposures.

International research team identifies autoinflammatory syndrome

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 24:00:00 EDT

A team of international researchers, including doctors at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), has identified an autoinflammatory disorder of the bone and skin. Autoinflammatory diseases are made up of a group of genetic disorders that can cause recurrent and persistent inflammation lesions that can affect the skin, joints, bones, eyes, the GI tract and the nervous system, including hearing.

Cancer stem cell studies could open the door to personalized, targeted treatments for brain cancers

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 24:00:00 EDT

Researchers develop new technique that maintains cancer stem cell “purity,” provide insight into targeting cells for future therapies

(Toronto) – Scientists in Toronto and in the United Kingdom have developed a new technique to efficiently grow cancer stem cells in the lab. This finding not only provides insight into how malignant brain tumours are formed, it is also a significant step forward in the quest to develop individualized therapy for patients with brain cancer. The research will be published in the June 4th advance online edition of the journal Cell Stem Cell.

SickKids president elected chair of Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 24:00:00 EDT

Mary Jo Haddad, President and CEO, SickKids, has been elected chair of the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario (CAHO). Haddad will lead CAHO for a two-year term, effective immediately. The announcement was made at the CAHO annual meeting on May 29.

HOT TOPIC - Researchers find children under five living in poor neighbourhoods have the greatest chance of being killed in a homicide

Thu, 28 May 2009 24:00:00 EDT

Children under five living in Canada’s poorest urban neighbourhoods have the highest risk of death by homicide, according to a new study. A team of researchers from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Bloorview Kids Rehab and Statistics Canada investigated the relationship between homicides and socioeconomic status in children under the age of 15. The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found that children in poorer neighbourhoods have three times the risk of homicide as children in high-income neighbourhoods, with children under five at the highest risk.

Lee appointed to steering committee of Chinese research centre

Thu, 28 May 2009 24:00:00 EDT

Dr. Shoo Lee, Head, Division of Neonatology, Women's Auxiliary Chair in Neonatology, has been appointed to the steering committee of a major Chinese research centre, a position that will see him advise the institution on its future direction and strategy.

"Junk" drives tumour growth

Tue, 26 May 2009 24:00:00 EDT

Novel cancer gene accelerates or stops tumour growth depending on amount of "junk" in cell

(Toronto) - Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have found a gene that plays a crucial role in the development of rhabdomyosarcoma – the most common childhood sarcoma (soft tissue cancer). The gene is called integrin-linked kinase (ILK) and is unique in that it can act as both a tumour suppressor and a tumour promoter. The study is published in the June issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

First in Canada: baby has heart procedure while inside her mother’s womb and is now doing fine

Fri, 08 May 2009 24:00:00 EDT

(Toronto) – In a Canadian first, doctors at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Mount Sinai Hospital successfully performed a lifesaving heart intervention on a baby in utero. A team of doctors, including Dr. Edgar Jaeggi, Head of the Fetal Cardiac Program at SickKids, Dr. Greg Ryan, Head of the Fetal Medicine Unit at Mount Sinai and Dr. Lee Benson, Director of the Cardiac Diagnostic and Interventional Unit at SickKids, expanded the baby’s aortic valve using a balloon catheter inserted through the mother’s abdomen while the baby was still in her womb to reverse the baby’s heart failure before birth. This allowed the baby to remain safely in utero for a crucial extra month.

Michael Taylor one of Canada's top 40 under 40

Wed, 06 May 2009 24:00:00 EDT

SickKids' Dr. Michael Taylor, Neurosurgeon, Neurosurgery; Principal Investigator, Brain Tumour Research Centre; and Scientist, Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, has been named one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40.

Canadian kids don't get enough Vitamin D

Mon, 04 May 2009 24:00:00 EDT

SickKids study finds one third of urban Canadian toddlers have deficiency

Stem cells are going green to study autism

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 24:00:00 EDT

Scientists have developed a new technique to quickly identify stem cells with the goal of fast-tracking medical advancements

Morning sickness may lead to brighter kids

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 24:00:00 EDT

(Toronto) - For many expectant mothers, that queasy feeling is one of the hardest parts of pregnancy. But new research reveals that mom’s nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), commonly known as morning sickness, may actually result in a smarter baby.

SickKids scientists muscle in on cause of muscular dystrophy

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 24:00:00 EDT

An international group of researchers led by scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) Research Institute has found the gene that causes a form of muscular dystrophy. The study is published in the April 17 issue of Cell.

SickKids’ Corporate Ventures office licenses peptide discovered by Research Institute scientists to treat chronic pain

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 24:00:00 EDT

A new pharmaceutical technology licensed in February by the Corporate Ventures office at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) may help treat neuropathic and inflammatory pain in children and adults, but without the serious side effects that can accompany currently available treatments.

Pregnant women shouldn’t fear taking antidepressant drugs

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 24:00:00 EDT

Researchers have found taking antidepressants during pregnancy does not increase the chance of birth defects

(Toronto) – Taking an antidepressant during pregnancy has become a difficult and complicated process, mostly because of the conflicting information regarding safety. Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children’s (SickKids) Motherisk Program studied the link between antidepressants and birth defects. The research will be published in the April edition of The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.

Scientists uncover a new one-two punch combination that knocks out infection

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 24:00:00 EDT

Researchers find a new role oxidants play in fighting bacteria

TORONTO – For many years, we have heard about the harmful effects of oxidants (compounds that are highly reactive). They have been labelled as “bad” molecules because they are often associated with radiation exposure and the damage of cellular parts such as DNA and proteins. But not all oxidants are “bad”.

SickKids scientists selectively erase fear memories and gain insight into how the memory works

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 24:00:00 EDT

TORONTO – It may sound like something out of a science fiction movie – but bad memories can be erased in mice and this finding sheds light into how memories are normally encoded and stored in the brain. In a study published in the March 13 issue of the journal Science, researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have established a link between specific neurons and a given memory.

Genetic research narrows in on cause of childhood brain cancer

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 24:00:00 EST

Researchers hope the discovery of multiple genetic mutations leads to improved cancer treatments

TORONTO – Scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have discovered a family of eight genes that are mutated in patients with medulloblastoma – the most common childhood brain cancer. The research is published in the March 8 online edition of Nature Genetics.

HOT TOPIC - Heavy drinking during pregnancy could lead to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 24:00:00 EST

Mothers who drink heavily during pregnancy put their children at risk of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), a cognitive and developmental disorder with long-term effects. New research started at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) documents the lifetime costs to Canada of the estimated 4,000 children born with FASD every year. The study is the first to estimate the cost of FASD to the Canadian economy.

Sugar water: The sweet solution for pain relief in babies that lasts

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 24:00:00 EST

TORONTO – Something as simple as a diaper change after a blood test can be painful for infants. But according to a new study, an ingredient found in your kitchen cupboard –ordinary sugar – could be the answer.

New insight into MS – Researchers shed light on an underlying cause of damage to the nerve coating

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 24:00:00 EST

A team of scientists has found changes in the amount, or charge, of a protein may cause the breakdown of myelin – the protective casing that surrounds nerve fibres – in MS patients. The study is published in the advance online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

Lunatic and Manic Proteins Sweeten Immune Cells

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 24:00:00 EST

SickKids researchers have discovered a molecular interaction that controls the development of immune cells in the spleen

Toronto - The spleen is a little talked about organ that has a big job. It helps clear away bacteria and other infections that get into the blood. All the blood is filtered through the spleen, where there are special immune cells called Marginal Zone (MZ) B cells. These MZ B cells help get rid of bacteria. Dr. Cynthia Guidos, SickKids Senior Scientist and Professor in Immunology at the University of Toronto and Dr. Sean Egan, Senior Scientist and Associate Professor in Medical Genetics and Microbiology at the University of Toronto, found an important molecular interaction that controls the development of the MZ B cells. Their findings are published today in the on-line edition of Immunity and will be published in the Feb 20 print issue.

SickKids researchers solve a universal lab test mystery

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 24:00:00 EST

It is a phenomenon that has boggled molecular scientists for decades … the protein size puzzle. It has to do with a lab test called SDS-PAGE, arguably the world’s most commonly used biochemical lab method. The procedure is used to identify and study proteins. But while it is widely used, it often doesn’t give correct readings for certain types of proteins and scientists have been at a loss to explain why.

Repatriated Canadian scientist leads an international study on the discovery of the first gene linked to the most common form of epilepsy

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 24:00:00 EST

Lisa Strug a Scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Assistant Professor, Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, was the lead author of a paper
published today in the online issue of the European Journal of Human Genetics, in advance of the print edition.

Researchers identify potential new weapon in battle against HIV infection

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 24:00:00 EST

(Toronto) - Researchers have discovered a potentially important new resistance factor in the battle against HIV: blood types. An international team of researchers from Canadian Blood Services, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Lund University in Sweden have discovered that certain blood types are more predisposed to contracting HIV, while others are more effective at fending it off.

SickKids’ health information website, AboutKidsHealth.ca becomes a national source for child health information

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 24:00:00 EST

TORONTO – AboutKidsHealth.ca, a child health information website created by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), is providing resources to centres across Canada to ensure that Canadian parents have easy access to reliable child health information. Through partnerships with Sympatico / MSN, IWK Health Centre and other hospitals, child health news from AboutKidsHealth.ca will reach more Canadian families than ever before.

SickKids hosts joint symposium with Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 24:00:00 EDT

Toronto – Advancing its partnership with the Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (SIBCB), one of China 's leading life science research institutes, SickKids hosted the first in a series of international symposia. On October 20 th TheToronto-Shanghai Joint Symposium on Stem Cell and Systems Biology , organized in collaboration with the Department of Molecular Genetics and the Terrence Donnelly Center for Cellular & Biomolecular Research at the University of Toronto, featured presentations by six SIBCB scientists including Dr. Naihe Jing, Acting Director of SIBCB, and six Toronto researchers including Dr. Freda Miller and Dr. Steve Scherer from SickKids.

New understanding of the aging brain

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 24:00:00 EDT

Variations of the gene that protects the brain as it ages may also indicate a susceptibility for Alzheimer's.

A team of researchers led by scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) has discovered that the mammalian gene, p73 is essential for protecting the brain through the normal aging process. The findings suggest that reduced levels of p73 may increase a person's likelihood of developing Alzheimer's or another neurodegenerative disorder. Their findings are published in the September 2008 issue of Neuron .

Seeing eye to eye with…the fly? SickKids scientists confirm common ancestry of the eyes in humans and flies

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 24:00:00 EDT

Toronto - Scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have established that despite our many differences, the genes that control the development of eyes in humans and flies are remarkably similar. This research, published in the September 9, 2008 issue of the journal Current Biology, suggests that the eyes of invertebrates (such as fruit flies) and vertebrates (such as humans) have a common ancestry.

SickKids scientists uncover the key to controlling how stem cells develop

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 24:00:00 EDT

Toronto – Canadian researchers are one step closer to controlling human embryonic stem cell differentiation thanks to the work of scientists Dr. Cheryle Séguin and Dr. Janet Rossant of the Developmental and Stem Cell Biology program at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

SickKids scientists demonstrate link between DNA copy number changes and cancer risk

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 24:00:00 EDT

Discovery may lead to the early identification of individuals who are predisposed to developing cancer

Next generation of scientists in training at SickKids

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 24:00:00 EDT

Last year, third-year science student Stephanie Taillefer's summer job was filing medical records in a dark, windowless basement in Barrie . “It was mind-numbing work,” she says, “and it gave me paper cuts.”

SickKids Scientist Dr. Lisa Robinson nationally recognized as a mentor of tomorrow’s researchers

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 24:00:00 EDT

Toronto – SickKids Scientist and Staff Physician Dr. Lisa Robinson received today the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Synapse Award. This award recognizes her outreach and guidance to youth and her contribution to the next generation of health scientists.

The Synapse award, worth $5000, is all the more special because the awardees are selected by the CIHR Youth Outreach Advisory Board – the very youth that have been inspired by the actions of these scientists. Robinson was nominated for her ongoing efforts to mentor youth through the Kids Science program that she founded and runs at The Hospital for Sick Children. The Kids Science program is designed to reach out to ‘at risk' youth and those who might not have exposure to science and technology opportunities in their communities. Through school visits from researchers, lab visits at SickKids, an annual event at SickKids - the Science Extravaganza - and youth mentoring, Robinson and her team provide youth with an opportunity to learn, experience research first-hand and consider the many academic opportunities and career options that are available in the world of science.

"When it comes to mentorship, Lisa Robinson is a leader for all of us here at SickKids," says Dr. Janet Rossant, Chief of Research. "Through the Kids Science program, Lisa inspires young people to consider a brighter future that is full of career possibilities in science and health research. And she reminds all researchers that, while it is important to succeed in our respective career paths, it is equally important to help young people follow in our footsteps."

The CIHR Synapse initiative is a program designed to bring together health researchers and young students across Canada. Synapse is a popular program in the science community with more than 4,000 CIHR-funded health researchers already signed up to become CIHR Synapse mentors. The program works to connect high school students with these mentors, to give them hands-on training experience that will help create the next generation of Canadian health researchers.

Breakthrough at SickKids: How cancer stem cells ‘hide’ in tumours

Fri, 23 May 2008 24:00:00 EDT

Toronto - A group of investigators at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) published a paper in the May 2008 issue of the journal, Stem Cells, which documents the role of hypoxia –low oxygen content – on the growth of cancer cells. Dr. Bikul Das, a research fellow in the Division of Pathology at SickKids under the primary supervision of Dr. Herman Yeger, and co-supervision of Dr. Ernest Cutz, at SickKids in collaboration with Drs. David Malkin, Gideon Koren, Sylvain Baruchel also of SickKids and, and Dr. Rika Tsuchida, a former SickKids research fellow, who is now at University of Tokyo, have demonstrated that cancer stem cells appear to hide in the low oxygen areas of the tumour and in effect, avoid the lethal effects of drug and radiation therapies. This discovery explains in part why cancers may at times recur, even after having initially responded to treatment.

SickKids researchers provide new information to improve treatment of complications of pneumonia in children

Wed, 14 May 2008 24:00:00 EDT

Toronto – Drs. Eyal Cohen, Michael Weinstein of the Department of Paediatrics and the Paediatric Outcomes Research Team at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), and Dr. David N. Fisman a scientist in the Child Health Evaluative Sciences program at SickKids Research Institute published this month in the prestigious journal Pediatrics , a compelling analysis of the various treatment strategies for paediatric empyema, a complication of pneumonia where pus is collected in the airways. This condition is increasing in incidence throughout the developed world.

Scientists develops new model for determining optimal antibiotic use for treatment of community acquired pneumonia

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 24:00:00 EDT

A group of Toronto scientists including Dr. David N Fisman, a scientist in the Child Health Evaluative Sciences program at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), have developed a theoretical model to guide the best use of antibiotics for treating infectious diseases. This model estimates the risk of a bad outcome (such as death), based on the use of antibiotics to which resistance may be emerging. The model can also take into account various risk probabilities of the infectious agent as well as the age and health of patients. Fisman and team tested this model using the best available data on pneumonia and antibiotic resistance in Canada , the US and Europe . The model was built because current guidelines for antibiotic use do not consider the size of changes in risk for patients when certain antibiotics are used despite the presence of resistance in bacteria. This research is published online and in the April 15 th issue of the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

SickKids Scientists discover potential therapeutic agent for cancer

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 24:00:00 EST

Scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (Sickkids) have made an important research discovery which may influence the way that chemotherapy is delivered in certain types of cancer. The discovery is highlighted in a research paper, entitled “ Inhibition of Multidrug Resistance 1 (MDR1) by AdamantylGb3, a globotriaosylceramide analog ”, published in today's issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC).

Scientists discover a genetic combination that may worsen pulmonary disease in paediatric CF patients; Finding could pave the way for future clinical trials and genetic tests

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 24:00:00 EST

TORONTO – Scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), the University of British Columbia (UBC), the University of Toronto (UofT) and Université de Montréal (UdeM) have identified key genetic factors influencing the severity of lung disease in paediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Their research is reported this month in The Journal of Clinical Investigation .

Canadian scientists find frequent structural changes of chromosomes in autism

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 24:00:00 EST

Copy number alterations of genes contribute to autism in seven per cent of cases

Cell biologists find clues to chronic bacterial infection

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 24:00:00 EST

TORONTO – The January 17, 2008 issue of the prestigious journal, Nature, includes an article by researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), University of Toronto and Harvard Medical School that documents new knowledge about one chronic bacterial infection and suggests a pattern for others.

SickKids scientists discover new method to track an important lipid in the cell

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 24:00:00 EST

Toronto - An important cellular membrane lipid, phosphatidylserine (PS), through its negative charge, is responsible for regulating the surface charge of cellular membranes, a biophysical entity that can impact the function of many signaling proteins in the cell. Up until now, the distribution of this lipid within the cell was poorly understood, due to the lack of available experimental tools. By creating a novel biosensor that can recognize this lipid specifically, the precise localization of PS in the cell has been revealed. This discovery, published tomorrow in the journal Science , opens new paths in the study of this lipid in the cell.

SickKids scientists discover one of the genetic variations responsible for kidney failure in diabetics

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 24:00:00 EST

Toronto - Following a two-year genetic association study, scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have discovered that variations in the gene SOD1 are linked to the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy (kidney failure). This research is reported in the January issue of the journal Diabetes.