The Canucks for Kids Fund Childhood Diabetes Laboratories was established in 2012 with its aim to improve the lives of children with diabetes by advancing knowledge of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, through innovative and multi-disciplinary basic and clinical diabetes research. Research is aimed at understanding the causes of types 1 and 2 diabetes and improving treatments.
Our team brings together researchers from a variety of backgrounds – including virology, genetics, immunology, islet biology, and clinical diabetes research – to tackle this complex disease. Our investigators have extensive ties with the international diabetes research community and participate in international clinical trials for diabetes.
In 2018 the BC Diabetes Research Network was established at the BC Children’s Hospital with a grant from the University of British Columbia. The BCDRN is a provincial network to connect diabetes researchers from across British Columbia. The network is a resource for the faculty, trainees and staff engaged in diabetes research across British Columbia. BC Diabetes Research Network website.
Fast Facts
Housed at the research facilities at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute in the Translational Research Building- The Canucks for Kids Fund Childhood Diabetes Laboratories were created in 2002 with a $9-million award from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund
- In 2016 received $8.1 million award from Canada Foundation for Innovation and British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund for new instruments and technology
- 12 core investigators including 4 new recruits
- In the past 5 years, diabetes investigators have supervised over 100 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, and more than 80 undergraduates.
- Created 50 new jobs with support from international, industrial and charitable funders
- Since 2009, diabetes researchers have made 7 invention disclosures, filed 17 patents (provisional and utility), and filed 2 interinstitutional/option agreements.
2024 Canucks for Kids Fund Diabetes Catalyst Grant Competition
The Canucks for Kids Fund (CFKF) Childhood Diabetes Laboratories at the BC Children’s Hospital is delighted to announce the results for the 2024 Diabetes Catalyst peer reviewed grant competition. The CFKF Childhood Diabetes Laboratories will be investing $250,000 in innovative diabetes research projects. The call for applications sought highly innovative and novel research projects aimed at finding a cure for and improving the lives of children with diabetes. The external review committee recommended funding five proposals. These research projects will run over a two year term 2024-2026. We look forward to sharing the success of these projects with the diabetes research community and our funding partners.
Congratulations to the following successful proposals:
- Preclinical CRISPR-based model and therapy for hyperphagic obesity
Researchers: Dr. William Gibson and Dr. Elizabeth Simpson
Funding: $50,000 - Engineering Tregs to be resistant to inflammation-induced instability
Researchers: Dr. Megan Levings and Dr. Karoliina Tuomela
Funding: $50,000 - Targeting Transcriptome Factor EB (TFEB) for improved functional maturation of stem cell-derived beta-cells
Researchers: Dr. Dan Luciani and Dr. Francis Lynn
Funding: $50,000 - Active Steps: A pilot study of a virtual intervention to increase physical activity in children with type 1 diabetes living in rural and remote communities in BC
Researchers: Dr. Christine Voss, Dr. Dina Panagiotopoulos, and Dr. Tamara Cohen
Funding: $50,000 - The impact of GLP1 receptor agonist on skeletal muscle health in children
Researchers: Dr. David Wright, Dr. Robert Bouschel (UBC), and Dr. Daniel Gamu
Funding: $50,000
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