Collaboration between clinical and research activities – Now that’s using your head!
In the 1997 Research Institute Annual Report, Dr. Manuel Buchwald, SickKids Chief of Research, unveiled a new structure for the SickKids Research Institute. Twelve new programs were formed, mixing basic research and clinical departments and divisions. Six of the new programs were based on established scientific disciplines and six were interdisciplinary groupings that brought together scientists from various backgrounds. The main goal was to create more collaboration between clinical and research activities at SickKids.
In the following year’s RI Annual Report, Dr. Buchwald highlighted several partnerships and collaborative work that was starting up between clinicians and scientists at SickKids as a result of the new structure. One of the highlighted programs was the Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre (BTRC). This was Canada’s first basic science brain tumour research centre. A $5 million donation from Arthur and Sonia Labatt enabled SickKids to open this facility bringing together clinicians and scientists from SickKids, the Toronto Hospital and the University of Toronto. The BTRC became a collaborative laboratory, focused on basic science research of human brain tumours both in adults and children. Dr. James Rutka, SickKids neurosurgeon and Brain and Behaviour researcher, was named the Centre’s first director, a role he continues to hold today.
The BTRC, now housed in the Toronto Medical Discovery Tower, continues to be a leader in neuro-oncology research. Dr. Michael D. Taylor, a BTRC Principal Investigator, was recently awarded the Canadian Cancer Society 2009 Young Investigator Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to basic biomedical research that has led to a better understanding of cancer, improved cancer treatments and new advancements in cancer control.