Newsletter Articles:
• CHEO Launches $25 Million Research Campaign
• Former Patient Steps Up For Kids Who Need CHEO Now
• Taking Huge Steps Forwards In Lifesaving Research
• CHEO Employee Inspires Others by Giving Back
• The Best Care for Kids Requires The Best Equipment
Taking Huge Steps Forwards In Lifesaving Research
From cancer to Cystic Fibrosis, from mental health to obesity, there is sadly no shortage of illnesses waiting to be cured. And there are no shortage of children hoping that today may be the day that a CHEO researcher finds the answer. What role does research play at CHEO? “The greater the research, the better the clinical care,” explains Dr. Alex MacKenzie, CEO and Scientific Director of the CHEO Research Institute (RI).
But what does this research work mean to the parent of a child who is battling cancer today and cannot wait for tomorrow’s cure? According to Dr. MacKenzie, those parents can find an answer in the medical team that surrounds them. “Smart, engaged, focused individuals will give better clinical care,” explains Dr. MacKenzie. CHEO is proud of the caliber and level of medical talent the RI has attracted. It is those physicians who provide the best possible care for our children and participate actively in on-going research initiatives and clinical trials. “Attracting talent translates into excellence in clinical research,” explains Dr. MacKenzie.
The majority of CHEO physicians engage in research work. It is considered both a priority and a passion. From bone density to the use of anesthetic spray, from respiratory infections to oncolytic viruses, CHEO physicians are dedicated to research and eager to discover and share their findings. “The more research at a hospital, the better care your child will receive,” adds Dr. MacKenzie.
Funding research initiatives is essential to maintaining the quality and level of care sought and expected for our children. Medical research is not a short term project. Studies and discoveries take time and must be sustained over a period of time. Funding allows researchers to expand and continue the work they have already begun. “Funding allows us to strengthen programs that are already making waves,” explains Dr. MacKenzie.
One such program is the work of researcher David Stojdl with oncolytical virus therapy. Dr. Stodjl and his colleagues have identified a class of virus that selectively and exclusively kills cancer cells. This approach may at some stage play a vital role in treating one of the most difficult cancers to treat – brain tumours.
The CHEO Foundation BIG STEPS Campaign aims to invest in and build an even stronger, more sustainable and more focused research environment. What does the future hold? Dr. MacKenzie believes there are “made in CHEO” answers just waiting to be discovered. BIG STEPS will allow small steps to turn into giant steps forward in research towards treatments and cures.