Research Neighbourhoods

Molecules, Therapies & Infectious Diseases
SickKids is uniquely placed to identify new targets for therapeutic interventions in diseases that begin in childhood and affect adult life, and to develop new molecular therapies and carry them through to clinical impact. A new multidisciplinary approach will result in major advances, uniting researchers to develop an innovative pipeline approach to target discovery and drug development for childhood diseases.

Cancer, Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine
Despite enormous advances in the past 20 years, cancer is the most common cause of disease-related death in children. SickKids is the largest childhood cancer treatment centre in Canada and a major contributor to international paediatric clinical trials. SickKids researchers are leading cancer stem cell research and are poised to identify novel predictors and develop innovative therapies.

Genetics & Genomics in Child Health
Our understanding of human genome structure and function is just beginning. SickKids has and will continue to lead human genetics and genomics research. Knowledge of an individual’s genotype can influence prevention, treatment and cure of disease. Informed by SickKids genetic studies, a research team will focus on the ethical and public policy issues raised by the increasing availability of genetic information, with special emphasis on the issues particular to children, yielding much-needed new diagnostic tests and treatments for complex childhood diseases.

Patients, Populations & Policy
This neighbourhood focuses on outcomes and impacts, with the goal to improve the health and quality of life of children and their families. Undertaking research on issues that matter to Canadians, the scientists in this area develop evidence-based methods to ensure research findings lead to more effective and efficient delivery of health-care and health promotion strategies including the management of pain, asthma, Type 1 diabetes as well as access to primary care, health technology, emerging infection control and effective health promotion strategies for youth at risk of mental illness.

Organ Systems & Disease
Tens of thousands of Canadian children suffer from congenital birth defects and complex and chronic diseases of the cardiovascular, immune, endocrine, respiratory and musculoskeletal systems and retain these problems as adults. Early intervention is key to preventing a lifetime of health challenges, and starts with understanding how disease begins before birth and in childhood. The focus of SickKids on regenerative medicine will apply transformative new technologies to lung disease, tissue reconstructive surgery, cardiac anomalies and joint disease in children.

Brain & Behaviour
Brings together a team of basic scientists, clinician scientists and health professionals to address issues such as pain, brain injury and repair, vision and auditory perception, epilepsy, cognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders such as ADHD, autism, obsessive compulsive disorder and schizophrenia. This team approach results in new insights and interventions for the treatment of children with brain disorders.