Program For Individualized Cystic Fibrosis Therapy

SickKids and Cystic Fibrosis Canada

Building a national resource to rapidly develop effective treatments for every person living with Cystic Fibrosis.

Together, Cystic Fibrosis Canada and SickKids have driven a number of landmark discoveries in cystic fibrosis (CF) research, including identification of the gene responsible for CF in 1989. The work of Cystic Fibrosis Canada and SickKids is testament to what can be accomplished when communities join together to improve the lives of the thousands of Canadians affected by CF. There is no better team to tackle Cystic Fibrosis.

Drawing from leading programs in stem cells, genetics, and cystic fibrosis, SickKids is the world's most advanced centre for research into the genetic basis of CF and the use of stem cells to identify new treatments. This sets us on the road to our goal: life-changing treatments tailored to an individual patient. Together, Cystic Fibrosis Canada and SickKids will create the Program for Individualized CF Therapy at SickKids - a national resource dedicated to individualized CF drug discovery.

Every week in Canada two children are diagnosed with CF. With over 2,000 different CF gene mutations, each patient is different. New technology is allowing scientists a better understanding of complex genetic factors that affect an individual's response to treatment. And processes that once took years - like screening drugs before they can be tested in humans in a clinical trial - can now be performed in the lab in a fraction of the time. Our goal is to ensure every CF patient has access to the life-changing treatments that will work best for them, as quickly as possible.