Our objective is to fund all current and future medical research projects that express the most promise in the realization of a cure. In order to enhance our ability to identify the research programs and professionals with the best abilities of finding a cure, we are currently interviewing doctors from all backgrounds (including MBAs, researchers, and caregivers, both domestically and internationally) who work directly with cystic fibrosis, to create our medical advisory board. Working with this board, we will evaluate the full spectrum of research projects that are taking place worldwide and further identify the specific teams that have the greatest ability to find a cure for this devastating disease. As we continue to identify the right team, we will increase our fundraising activities and work closely with our advisors to stay on top of emerging research opportunities, so that we can fund them.

Given the tasks at hand and the financial resources available, the Foundation has focused its efforts at this point in identifying the scientific and medical professionals with the best abilities to pursue and realize the avenues for a cure. This has led to one of the initial Foundation grants being given to Dr. Jim Hu in the amount of $20,000 in 2008. Through the Toronto Sick Children’s Hospital, his research with cystic fibrosis has previously won him the Power of Dreams Research Award from Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. With our grant, Dr. Hu has been able to further his research in gene therapy, and specifically in creating a vector that transfers a normal gene into targeted epithelial cells which line the airways, and produces a necessary protein, in place of a protein which is defective in CF. More information about Dr. Hu and his research can be found at:

http://www.sickkids.ca/aboutsickkids/news-room/past-news/2003/sickkids-researchers-develop-vector-for-potential-cystic-fibrosis-gene-therapy.html

http://www.sickkids.ca/aboutsickkids/directory/people/h/jim-hu.html