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Norman Saunders Jacob’s Ladder International Research Prize

The Norman Saunders Jacob’s Ladder International Research Prize is an annual award and lectureship that recognizes a leading international researcher whose work has made significant contributions to advancing the understanding and care of neurodegenerative disorders related to paediatric chronic illness. 

About the Prize 

Established through an endowment from Jacob’s Ladder – The Canadian Foundation for the Control of Neurodegenerative Disease, the prize honours the life of Jacob Schwartz, who lived with Canavan disease, a rare, inherited neurodegenerative condition with no known cure, and the legacy of Dr. Norman Saunders, a paediatrician at SickKids. Jacob was cared for by Dr. Saunders, whose compassionate clinical approach left a lasting impact on his family and the broader SickKids community.  

Founded by Jeff and Ellen Schwartz in honour of their son, Jacob’s Ladder supported research, advocacy, and awareness initiatives in neurodegeneration. This prize reflects both Jacob’s legacy and Dr. Saunders’ commitment to improving the lives of children living with complex medical conditions.  

The prize includes $3,000 (CDN) annually from the endowment and is stewarded through the Genetics & Genome Biology program. 

2026 Prize Recipient

Stephen Cederbaum

Dr. Stephen Cederbaum, MD
Professor Emeritus, Pediatrics, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, and Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) 

Dr. Cederbaum has been practicing medical genetics for over 50 years with a special interest in inborn errors of metabolism and newborn screening, particularly disorders of the urea cycle. He is considered an authority on the mammalian arginase genes and enzymes and on its deficiency in man.

2026 Prize Lecture

Dr. Stephen Cederbaum delivered the 2026 keynote lecture on October 14, 2026 as part of Paediatrics Grand Rounds.

50-year Journey with the Diagnosis and Treatment of Arginase Deficiency 

Lecture objectives: 

  • Appreciating the evolving understanding of arginase deficiency 
  • Learn how the definition and study of arginase deficiency led to treatment 
  • Understand the limitation of each treatment approach

Past recipients  

Since its inception in 2000, the Norman Saunders Jacob’s Ladder International Research Prize has honoured a distinguished group of scientists whose work has shaped the field of neurodegenerative disease in children. Past recipients include:  

Contact

For more information about the Prize or upcoming lectures, contact jacobs.ladder@sickkids.ca.

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