James Birrell Labs

On November 13, 2007, SickKids named the “James Birrell Laboratories”, where all neuroblastoma research at SickKids now takes place. The James Birrell Laboratories are located within the Kaplan/Miller labs in Toronto. 

In 2001, The James Fund created a “fast-track” research process which was unique to SickKids. As soon as enough funds were raised for a one-year project ($25,000 at that time), a competition was launched and researchers were invited to submit their new and innovative theories about neuroblastoma. (Existing research had not produced any improvement in mortality rates in 30 years, so The James Fund was only looking for new ideas to test.) All applications were peer reviewed by a panel of top scientists and the successful candidate was given a one-year “seed grant,” and began their project within a matter of weeks.

While James Fund researchers were breaking new ground with their one-year seed grants, James Fund supporters were madly fundraising for the next project, and the staff at SickKids Foundation were bending their system to accommodate the “fast-track” model.

Any promising results which came from the one-year seed grants were submitted to larger agencies for further funding, to leverage the dollars raised by James Fund donors. In 2006 alone, two $30,000 James Fund seed grants leveraged $1 Million from the Canadian Stem Cell Network, and the Canadian Cancer Society, to continue their investigations over the next few years.

Since 2001, The James Fund has raised $4.5 Million for fast-track research, funded 17 projects, and has had as many published articles in leading cancer journals worldwide.  The James Fund has also brought an additional $4.5 Million into SickKids in matching funds from other agencies.

James Fund seed grants have leveraged funding from major granting agencies including The Stem Cell Network, National Institutes of Health, the Canadian Cancer Society and the Terry Fox Foundation. As well, The James Fund entered into a prestigious partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, funding neuroblastoma research at hospitals and universities across Canada.

The James Fund has attracted major granting agencies to the neuroblastoma cause, brought brilliant scientists to SickKids to study neuroblastoma, paid for the first drug-testing unit of its kind in the field of children’s cancer research, and produced data which is relevant to other cancers.

There are currently 25 researchers working in the James Birrell Laboratories, which is one of the largest dedicated neuroblastoma research labs in the world.  James Fund researchers oversee innovative projects in 8 countries and have received the top neuroblastoma research awards in the world.

James Fund researcher, Dr. Sylvain Baruchel, has been appointed to the board of the Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Group. This elite group is an international think tank of scientists dedicated to raising the bar on neuroblastoma treatment globally. Sylvain has also been invited to join NANT, New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy. This consortium is a group of 13 universities and children’s hospitals in the USA with strong research and treatment options for neuroblastoma. Sylvain is the first person outside of the USA to ever be invited to join this group.

Clearly, The James Fund’s “fast-track” model has proven to be highly effective in creating a vast wealth of new data about neuroblastoma, and has established SickKids as a global leader of research into this disease. Also, The James Fund has become Canada’s flagship fundraising initiative for neuroblastoma families, who are working together under the umbrella of The James Fund to raise funds to find a cure for their children.  The James Fund has become the best hope families fighting neuroblastoma have.

“Neuroblastoma is one of the most terrible diseases any small child can suffer, and one of the most devastating to the family members.  So when you meet a family who has made immense efforts to save their child, fundraise for research, and almost single-handedly commit to conquering the disease — well, your heart and mind shout out to become involved.  That’s why I am so pleased to be able to help”

Canadian Star, Michael Burgess