About CH.I.L.D.
You are a part of our history
Sixteen years since starting our foundation in 1995; it has been a labor of love for very many people. It has also been successful, accomplishing public awareness which had never before been witnessed.
No longer do children, families and adults with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (I.B.D.)* shy away from talking about the disorders and as a result, we have also been successful in raising $27 M for research and built a research lab, the first of its kind in B.C. and established two Endowed Chairs for Research at U.B.C. and at Children’s Hospital.
We could only accomplish this with your help and your support. THANK YOU for this and for giving what you could in every way.
* Inflammatory Bowel Diseases or I.B.D.: The umbrella term for Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis
You are A PART OF OUR FUTURE
On May 12, 2008 , our CH.I.L.D. Foundation was given a grant of twelve million dollars, announced by Premier Gordon Campbell at B.C. Children’s Hospital. Information and an explanation of the grant can be found on this website.
The grant is to be used to implement The CH.I.L.D. National Research Collaborative and the CH.I.L.D. National Research Network.
These two initiatives answer the question asked over many years:
“Why don’t researchers and all medical Disciplines who work on a cure for I.B.D. get together, communicate and co-ordinate in order to find a cure for Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Liver Disorders?”
With a $12 million grant, we are launching the CH.I.L.D. Collaborative and the CH.I.L.D. National Research Network to address this question, to find a cure for Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Through this grant and these initiatives British Columbia will lead Canada in initiating a program that concentrates on every group and individual working on I.B.D. to collate the information; that is, share their expertise and share our vision: FIND A CURE.
Can we now stop working? Not until we find a cure.
We’re not there yet and in the meantime, the CH.I.L.D. Foundation will, with your help and the wonderful support of our people in British Columbia continue to raise funds for research for the quest for a cure.
Research requires substantial financial resources. Our CH.I.L.D. Research Laboratory at Children’s Hospital now has twenty people working daily to find a cure. We feel sure that with their dedication, the support of the community, and our new idea to enjoin with all Canadian researchers, we will be successful.
May 12, 2008 was a great day for us all and we should pause to appreciate our wonderful B.C. Government grant, the work of our volunteer Board of Directors and all of our volunteers, supporters, doctors, researchers and donors.
And now, time to go to work to help all the children we serve!
Thank you!
Former CH.I.L.D. Foundation Updates
The CH.I.L.D. Foundation was launched by a group of volunteers and obtained its charitable tax-exempt status from the Federal Government in September, 1995. Tax exempt number: BN 89897 4951 RR0001.
The Foundation was co-founded by Grace M. McCarthy, O.C., O.B.C., LL.D., F.R.A.I.C. (Hon.), Mr. J. Lindsay Gordon, President, HSBC Bank Canada at head office in Vancouver, and Mary Parsons, presently President and Chief Executive Officer, CH.I.L.D. Foundation.
The following covers past accomplishments and future plans:
Timeline Summary
Established a totally voluntary organization with very limited expenses.
Raised the level of awareness to the public through public relations and advertising, all of which have been totally donated.
Succeeded in raising $27 million dollars.
On September 5, 2001, we established an Endowed Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology Research at the University of British Columbia. THIS IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN CANADA. Only the revenue from interest will be spent annually.
The University of British Columbia has provided a $500,000 matching Grant to CH.I.L.D. on the recommendation of the Dean of Medicine.
The Government of British Columbia has matched $1 million on the recommendation of the Premier and the Minister of Finance.
In 2002, an Endowed Chair in Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Research was established at the University of British Columbia, with the support of the CH.I.L.D. Foundation and B.C. Children’s Hospital. This Chair will be the cornerstone in building a pediatric gastrointestinal (GI) research program in British Columbia.
In March 2002, the Sydney Belzberg CH.I.L.D. Research Fund was named after the President of Budget Rental Cars for his support of our Foundation.
Dr. Bruce Vallance was apponted as the CH.I.L.D. Foundation Research Scholar and assumed his post in early 2003. He is a member of the Division of Gastrenterology in the Department of Pediatrics and has a laboratory within the B.C. Research Institute for Children’s and Women’s Health.
Clinical studies have been the mainstay of research in the past and continue to be an important part of the research program, as evidenced by over 40 publications by the Division over the past two years. The main foci for clinical studies are in the areas of inflammatory bowel disease, liver disorders and acid related disorders (peptic ulcer and gastroesophageal diseases). Plans are underway to collaborate with the Division of Hematology/Oncology/BMT to develop clinical research of the GI system in children undergoing bone marrow transplantation.
Dr. Richard Schreiber and Dr. Kevan Jacobson share laboratory space at the Research Institute. Both researchers have successfully competed for research grants, with the Northwestern Society of Intestinal Research, Novartis, AstraZeneca and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC) being sources of research support. Dr. Israel has funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) and CCFC as part of a multi-centre study in pediatric Crohn’s Disease.
The arrival of Dr. Vallance provided further momentum for the Division’s research program to become a world class centre. As part of this expansion, a new laboratory area within the Research Institute was equipped and opened in early 2003.
In December, 2003 an Endowment Deed was signed between the CH.I.L.D. Foundation and BC Children’s Hospital Foundation whereby CH.I.L.D. contributed $2 million and BC Children’s Hospital Foundation contributed $1 million. The combined $3 million is invested by the Hospital Foundation, and the resultant earnings of the fund provides one researcher. It is one of the largest amounts raised by a Foundation in the hospital’s history.
In January 2008, Dr. Laura Sly was appointed as a new research scientist in the Pediatric Gastroenterology group funded by the CH.I.L.D. Foundation at BC Children’s Hospital. Dr. Sly has extensive experience studying the immune response and mechanisms to dampen down inflammation.
In the new CH.I.L.D. Foundation supported laboratory at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, Dr. Sly’s research laboratory will focus its attention on applying new knowledge about the immune system and the process of inflammation to inflammatory bowel diseases, specifically Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Despite the complexity and diversity of inflammatory bowel diseases in patients, Dr. Sly is optimistic that inroads can be made to improve disease and reduce suffering for patients living with these diseases. Dr. Sly’s group will be joining the existing Pediatric Gastroenterology research teams headed by Dr. Kevan Jacobson and Dr. Bruce Vallance.
Dr. Vallance was appointed the CH.I.L.D. Foundation Research Scholar in January 2003, and in September of that year he took charge of the CH.I.L.D. funded research laboratory housed in the Child and Family Research Institite at the BC Children’s Hospital with the goal of studying the causes of the two major Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Currently, Dr. Vallance manages a lab of eight members where Dr. Deanna Gibson, Dr. Lisa Mansson, Dr. Marinieve Montero and Dr. Mohammed Rumi are pursuing their respective post doctoral fellowships. Dr. Mohammed Khan, Mr. Kirk Bergstrom, Ms. Yanet Valdez, Ms. Caixia Ma and Ms. Tina Huang also work alongside the doctors as research investigators.
The Vallance lab specializes in studying how bacteria causes inflammation in the mammalian GI tract, using cutting edge techniques and a multidisciplinary approach to define how gut inflammation leads to diarrhea and other pathologies characteristic of IBD. These pathologies include inflammation induced leakiness of the intestines, depletion of the protective goblet cells that line the intestine and the formation of scar tissue, also known as stricturing that can block the passage of food down the intestine.
While IBD is a very complex disease, Dr. Vallance and his group have already made significant progress in understanding how intestinal inflammation develops in response to enteric bacteria. Through these studies, Dr. Vallance is optimistic that his group’s research will help reduce the suffering of patients with IBD, ultimately by finding new therapies or potentially a cure for these terrible diseases.
Patient Care, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
The past two years have seen further increases in referrals to the Division, with significant increases in semi-urgent and complex referrals. As this Division operates the only pediatric GI Procedure Suite in the province, the combined impact of this circumstance and the increased complexity of cases has brought about a marked increase in the administrative component required for case management and interuptions to regularly scheduled activities of Division members. Waiting lists for outpatient clinics and for procedures scheduled to the operating room (children younger than six years of age and complex high-risk children) continue to grow.
As a result of these trends, the Division increasingly relies on telephone follow-up for patients. Clinical nurses respond to upwards of 40 phone calls per day; physicians also respond to phone calls from fellow physicians and families daily. As the outpatient workload now exceeds that of inpatient care, there is a need to improve the measurement and recording of both in- and out-patient care, to allow better planning and resource allocation. Further changes in practice patterns are on the horizon, as the Division explores new ways of restructuring clinical service and supporting care for GI disorders in partnership with community-based physicians.
We have had outstanding support from the BC’s Children’s Hospital where the research is being conducted. The help from the University of British Columbia’s Medical Faculty has been equally outstanding. It should be noted that the Gastroenterology Division of the Children’s Hospital has been given emphasis on priority, which reflects the hospital’s co-operation and awareness of the digestive problems associated with about 70 per cent of all the children admitted to hospital.
Our goals for the first phase of the CH.I.L.D. Foundation have all been met. We are at a pivotal and defining point in our organization’s short history. We interpret our plan in the following broad terms for the next five years:
Our First Researcher
An announcement was made in October 2002 introducing our first Research Scholar. This doctor is financed by the revenue from the $3.5 million Endowed Chair. The advantage of an Endowed Chair is that the yield from the principle is ongoing without touching the principle (Ensures funding in perpetuity).
Dr. Bruce Vallance has completed his post-doctoral fellowship at the Biotechnology Laboratory at UBC working with Dr. Brett Finlay. Dr. Vallance completed his Ph.D training at the Intestinal Diseases Research Programme at McMaster’s University in Hamilton, Ontario.
Under the direction of Dr. Stephen Collins, Chief of Gastroenterology, Bruce developed models of inflammatory bowel disease and studied how parasite infections cause disease in the gastrointestinal tract, publishing several papers on these subjects. (To read more on Dr. Vallance, please go to the bottom of the Board of Directors page).
The Team Approach
Now that our researchers are on board, it is imperative to surround them with a hard-working team of scientists who will, in co-ordination with the members of the scientific group, find solutions to the problems of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Therefore, ongoing fundraising to provide this team ensures our future success.
Our researcher can help greatly in the endeavour by applying for Research Grants under the National Research Council Grant system, and other research funding agencies. Effective research attracts research funds. Dr. Vallance has secured $3.5 Million in grants and salary incentives.
A. CH.I.L.D. Foundation Medical Research Laboratories
In 2003, the first CH.I.L.D. Foundation Pediatric GI Research Laboratory was up and running at B.C. Children’s Hospital with Dr. Bruce Vallance. He was awarded the CH.I.L.D. Foundation Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology and named CH.I.L.D. Foundation Research Scholar. In subsequent years, Dr. Kevan Jacobson joined Dr. Richard Schreiber and Dr. Collin Barker working with Dr. Vallance.
In May of 2009, the Gastroenterology Procedure Suite officialy opened at B.C. Children’s Hospital. The generous gift of $250,000 from the Canucks for Kids Fund to renovate and equip the GI Procedure Suite was made possible by the support and guidance fromthe CH.I.L.D. Foundation.
In 2010, the Division of Gastroenterology welcomed Dr. Orlee Guttman and Dr. Howard Parsons, brining the total to 20 research scientists at the CH.I.L.D. Foundation Research Labs Pediatric Gastroenterology.
In 2011, Dr. Valance was confirmed as award holder for the CH.I.L.D. Foundation Research Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology at U.B.C.
Better Co-ordination
We see the CH.I.L.D. Foundation as a catalyst for change. At the present time, too many individuals and groups of researchers work in isolation.
Our organization would like to see more sharing of knowledge to benefit all and to hasten our objectives. To this end, we will hold a series of meetings with all other I.B.D. researchers, and encourage electronic links across Canada, the United States, and the rest of the world.
Administrative Strength
The CH.I.L.D. Foundation has become well known, has successfully raised $27 million, and has started meaningful action in just nine years. This accomplishment has been done with very little administrative cost and is probably the fastest acton ever taken by a group of volunteers.
Our Executive decided that an Administrator was required for the important work ahead, which includes establishing a network with the research community and CH.I.L.D., as well as the smooth operation of the Foundation. Executive Director, Mary Parsons, was appointed in December 2002. In 2008, Director Mary Parsons was appointed to President and Chief Executive Officer. In 2009, offices for the CH.I.L.D. Foundation were acquired at the University of British Columbia through the generous favour of Dr. Michael Hayden. In 2009, Tim Murphy was appointed as Executive Director of the CH.I.L.D. National IBD Network.
Vision of the Future
Our one and only focus is to find a cure for Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and liver disorders.
We are not there yet.
However, we do know that with the same intense effort as has been given over the past 15 years, our chances of success in the next years will be phenomenal.
Outreach to Community
Continue to draw on community support for this cause by working well with groups and individuals and keeping the CH.I.L.D. Foundation name in the public eye.
Conclusion
We are not there yet. We are determined to find a cure. When a cure is found, our Board will, (besides celebrating), choose another needy children’s illness and our funds will go to work for that cause. This committment is embodied in our Mission Statement.
We have an outstanding group of volunteers. If you wish to become a volunteer, please telephone.
To view our Board of Directors, click here.
