The
Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute
Summary of The James Fund for Neuroblastoma Research at SickKids
2004 Competition Results
Background
The
James Fund for Neuroblastoma Research at SickKids (JF) was established
at SickKids Foundation by the
Birrell family to generate knowledge leading to new therapies for
the treatment of patients with neuroblastoma.
The objective
of The James Fund is to help SickKids and University of Toronto researchers develop pilot data from
feasibility studies to be subsequently used in new research grant
proposals. This funding is specifically designed to advance translational
research that could otherwise not compete successfully in external
grant competitions as patient-based research without convincing
pilot data. It is anticipated that the successful applications will
lead to a rapid translation to clinical research or be immediately
used as clinical research project.
The JF accepted
grant applications from researchers from SickKids and the University
of Toronto.
The JF Competition
allowed for funding of $30,000 for one year of research (with the
possibility of one time renewal for 1 year pending availability
of funds and timely submission of progress report). The grant is
primarily to cover the cost of supplies associated with the research
project. The funds may be used to cover a portion of salaries for
personnel working specifically on the research project.
Competition Results
| |
2004 |
| # of Applications
Submitted |
6 |
| Total Funding
Requested |
$180,375 |
| # of Applications
Funded |
4 |
| Total Funding
Awarded |
$119,675 |
| Success
Rate (# Applications Funded/# Applications Submitted) |
67% |
2004 Competition:
List of Funded Applications
| Primary
Applicant’s Name |
Primary
Applicant’s Institution/ Program |
Project
Title |
Co-applicants |
Funding
Awarded
Year 1 |
| Baruchel,
Sylvain |
The Hospital
for Sick Children/Division of Haematology/Oncology |
Development
of squalene as a novel cytoprotective agent against chemotherapeutic
toxicity in the management of high risk neuroblastoma |
Yeger,
H., Das, B., |
$30,000 |
| Irwin,
Meredith |
The Hospital
for Sick Children/Division of Haematology/Oncology |
Celeocxib
enhances chemosensitivity of neuroblastoma: molecular pathways
and therapeutic applications |
Lau, L. |
$29,700 |
| Kaplan,
David |
The Hospital
for Sick Children/Cancer Research |
Identification
and characterization of the cell of origin (cancer stem cell)
in neuroblastoma tumours |
Hansford,
L., Miller, F. |
$30,000 |
| Thorner,
Paul |
The Hospital
for Sick Children/Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine |
Use of
Chromogenic In Situ Hybridization to Identify Clones in Neuroblastoma
by MYCN Heterogeneity and Correlation with Clinical and Pathologic
Features |
Zielenska,
M. |
$29,975 |
Competition Process
Table
1: 2004 James Fund Competition Project
Evaluation Criteria
- Scientific
excellence
- Is the project
appropriate for neuroblastoma translational research project?
- Is the project
innovative in nature? Will it lead to the creation of new knowledge,
improve understanding of the biology of neuroblastoma, improve
the treatment of childhood neuroblastoma, or reduce or ameliorate
tumor or treatment related sequelae?
- Does the
primary investigator have the appropriate scientific qualifications
to lead and complete the project?
- Does the
application convincingly explain how the pilot data will lead
to a full external grant to rapidly translate to new therapy?
Full Application
Review
Each
application was assigned two primary reviewers by the chair. The
reviewers rated the applications against the competition criteria
(see Table 1 above).
The project
review meetings were conducted according to the following procedures:
1. The chair
announces the project and the applicants’ names.
2. The two primary reviewers summarize their general comments
about the project.
3. The chair opens the floor for questions and discussion to all
committee members. (Note: All members receive copies of the full
applications for all the proposals.)
4. The committee decides which of the following categories the
application falls into:
•
must fund
• should fund
• not fundable
5. An assigned committee
member dictates a 1-2 line summary of the discussion for the record.
All committee members listen to the summary being dictated.
James Fund Grant 2004
Committee Members
| |
Research
Institute Appointment, Program |
Clinical
Appointment,
Department |
University
Appointment, Institution |
Victor
Blanchette, FRCP
Chair*
|
Senior
Associate Scientist,
Population Health Sciences
|
Chief &
Staff Physician, Haematology/Oncology
Women's Auxiliary Millennium Chair in Paediatric Haematology/Oncology
|
Professor
of Paediatrics, University of Toronto |
| Peter Dirks,
MD, PhD |
Scientist,
Developmental Biology |
Staff Surgeon,
Neurosurgery |
Assistant
Professor of Surgery, Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology,
University of Toronto |
| Abhijit
Guha, MSc, MD, FRCS(C), FACS |
Senior
Scientist, Cancer
Co-director, Arthur & Sonia Labatts Brain Tumour Centre
|
Staff Surgeon,
Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital
Alan & Susan Hudson Chair in Neurooncology
|
Professor
of Surgery, University of Toronto |
| Steve Meyn,
MD, PhD, FRCPC, FACMG |
Senior
Scientist, Genetics and Genomic Biology |
Staff Geneticist,
Clinical Genetics |
Professor
of Paediatrics, Medical Genetics & Microbiology, University
of Toronto |
| Alberto
Pappo, MD |
Senior
Associate Scientist,
Population Health Sciences
|
Staff Physician,
Haematology/Oncology
Head, Solid Tumour Program in Haematology/Oncology
|
Professor
of Paediatrics, University of Toronto |
|
