Six SickKids researchers among latest new and renewed Canada Research Chairs

Six researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) are among the latest Tier 1 and Tier 2 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs (CRC) through University of Toronto announced this week. The six CRCs include four newly awarded Tier 1 chairholders who are advancing research that will contribute to further understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders, brain development, recovery after a brain injury, and evidence-based health-care delivery.

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced an investment of more than $102 million in support of 119 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs at 35 research institutions. The CRC Program recognizes individuals who have achieved research excellence in engineering and natural sciences, health sciences and social sciences and humanities.

Among the newest chairholders is CRC in Stem Cell Models of Childhood Disease Dr. James Ellis. Ellis is a Senior Scientist in the Developmental & Stem Cell Biology program. Through his research, he will explore the mechanisms that cause incorrect RNA and protein levels in Rett syndrome nerve cells and reduce their activity and will investigate variants in DNA promoters that alter the RNA levels of genes associated with cardiomyopathies and compromise the activity of beating heart cells.

Also examining brain health and development are Drs. John Sled and Donald Mabbott. Sled, a Senior Scientist in the Translational Medicine program, will be developing new biological imaging technologies and applications with the goal of improving health through better diagnostic methods and improved understanding of the mechanisms by which diseases affecting the fetus and placenta arise and progress. Sled’s research program aims to promote healthy brain development with better technologies to monitor fetal health and guide interventions.

Mabbott, Program Head and Senior Scientist in the Neurosciences & Mental Health program, aims to study the innate plasticity of the brain and how the brain can grow and adapt after experiencing injury. With a focus on children and youth who survive a malignant brain tumour, Mabbott will use novel neuroimaging to measure the growth of white matter and brain activation. The aim of his research is to support potential future therapies that can help patients with recovery and reduce the potential of disability after brain injury.

To increase capacity for evidence-based decision-making and inform paediatric health-care delivery is Tier 1 CRC Dr. Astrid Guttmann, staff paediatrician, Senior Scientist in the Child Health Evaluative Sciences program and Co-Director of the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children. Through her new Tier 1 CRC in Applied Child Health Services and Policy, Guttmann will investigate how health services and policy can reduce socio-economic inequities in child physical health and mental wellbeing.

The renewed Canada Research Chairs at SickKids are Dr. Ran Kafri, Scientist in the Cell Biology program (Tier 2 Chair in Quantitative Cell Biology), and Dr. Jeehye Park, Scientist in the Genetics & Genome Biology program (Tier 2 Chair in Molecular Genetics and Neurodegenerative Diseases).

The new and renewed CRCs are in six of the seven research programs at SickKids Research Institute.

New SickKids Canada Research Chairs:

• James Ellis - Canada Research Chair in Stem Cell Models of Childhood Disease (Tier 1)
• Astrid Guttmann - Canada Research Chair in Applied Child Health Services and Policy (Tier 1)
• Donald Mabbott - Canada Research Chair in White Matter Plasticity and Cognitive Development(Tier 1)
• John Sled - Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Imaging(Tier 1)

Renewed SickKids Canada Research Chairs:

• Ran Kafri - Canada Research Chair in Quantitative Cell Biology (Tier 2)
• Jeehye Park - Canada Research Chair in Molecular Genetics and Neurodegenerative Diseases(Tier 2)

Across Canada, 1,985 researchers are supported through the program. View SickKids' Canada Research Chairs and the full list of recipients on the CRC website.