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Brain Tumour Research Centre
The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre (BTRC) is where top scientists and clinicians from SickKids and The University Health Network collaborate on human brain tumour studies.
We share a virtual laboratory at the University of Toronto with other University Health Network scientists and clinicians, allowing us to share ideas, resources and equipment as we study the molecular basis of brain tumour progression. This multidisciplinary approach has facilitated outstanding basic and applied molecular neuro-oncology research, scientific publications and translational research.
To stay on the forefront of brain tumour studies, lab staff attends weekly research conferences where progress is evaluated, new models are discussed and research is compared with clinical data. Labatt BTRC members also engage in a weekly seminar series that reviews the latest cancer research.
Current brain tumour research
The BTRC aims to cure children and adults with brain tumours, while progressing towards more predictable clinical control of the condition. By determining how brain tumours form on a molecular level, our team is in a unique position to develop new scientific and clinical therapies.
We’re currently embarking on four specific research goals:
- Investigate the molecular basis of brain tumour progression through an analysis of genes which controls the cell cycle, signal transduction pathways, tumour angiogenesis, and invasion.
- Study the role of cell death (apoptotic) and tumour suppressor gene pathways in human brain tumours.
- Develop new methods to treat patients based on our growing knowledge of human brain tumours. Discoveries from the laboratory are quickly translated to effective clinical trials for patients with intracranial neoplasms.
- Maintain tumour banks for adult and childhood brain tumours, in which specimens can be kept to serve as a University of Toronto and nation-wide resource for investigators in molecular neuro-oncology.
Ongoing research and training of staff, fellows, and students in brain tumour biology and therapy is made possible by the donations from Arthur and Sonia Labatt.
Affiliated labs and groups
Learn more about the various labs and groups we work and collaborate with.
- The Dirks Lab
- The Hawkins Lab
- The Huang Lab
- The McGlade Lab
- The Rutka Lab
- The Tabori Lab
- The Taylor Lab
- AACR
- Canadian Cancer Society
- CIHR
- Canadian Medical Association
- Health Canada
- Meagan's HUG
- National Brain Tumor Society
- Ontario Hospital Association
- Sontag Foundation
- St. Michael's Hospital
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
- The American Brain Tumor Association
- The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada
- The Society of Neuro-Oncology
- UHN
- University of Toronto
Affiliated Specialists
- Neuro-Oncology Committee
Thanks to consistent support from SickKids donors, we've been able to advance impactful research and training for staff, fellows and students in brain tumour biology and therapy.
If you’d like to make a contribution to the Centre, you can donate directly to the Labatt BTRC through the SickKids Foundation.
- Go to the SickKids Foundation website
- Click on the “donate” button
- Select “one-time” donation and enter the amount you wish to donate
- Select method of payment (Credit card, Visa debit, Paypal and Visa checkout)
- On the next page select “For a specific area or purpose” and enter "Arthur & Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre"
We appreciate your support!
Contact us
labatt.btrc@sickkids.ca
416-813-8811