Research and Healthcare Providers
The Quest to Find a Cure
One of the CPFF’s key pillars is to fund research to improve and extend the lives of people living with PF. We are passionate about inter-disciplinary knowledge transfer in the medical and pharmaceutical fields to develop new drugs and therapies to improve lives. Thanks to our amazing donors and supporters, we will continue our tireless quest to find a cure.
CPFF Research Program
Each year, the CPFF Research Program funds two or more, $90,000/year Robert Davidson Fellowships and two, $20,000 Research Grants. You can find details of the latest funded research here.
How Recipients are Determined
CPFF’s Medical Advisory Board established in 2017, examines grant requests received from the research community and determines the recipients. They perform this service for CPFF as volunteers. This group is comprised of eight of Canada’s most highly respected respirologists, pulmonary fibrosis specialists, and researchers and helps ensure your donations for research are allocated wisely.
Named in honour of CPFF founder Robert Davidson, the Robert Davidson Fellowships provide $90,000 one- or two-year fellowships in Canada per year (requiring at least 75 percent of time dedicated to research-related activities.). The combination of clinical and research activities provides recipients with academic career development as they become key national and international members of the ILD community.
2022-2023 Robert Davidson Fellowship Recipients
Advancing research and developing more respiratory specialists to improve care, as well as expand access to care, for people living with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) are the aims of CPFF’s investment in clinical research fellowships. This year’s four fellowship recipients are sure to have an impact on both expanding our knowledge of PF and further developing their clinical skills to best serve those with the disease. Read more about the CPFF Robert Davidson Fellows.
CPFF Research Grants
CPFF offers two, $20,000 research grants each year to fund clinical research relevant to patient care and/or translational research. The research must be done in Canada and be relevant to Canadians and Canadian patients.
CPFF fellow advances ILD research and now provides specialist care
Dr. Kelly Sun is a prime example of the goals of the Robert Davidson CPFF Fellowship: to advance knowledge of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and to train respirologists to expand patient access to PF specialists.
As a 2021-2022 fellowship recipient, Dr. Sun published research on interstitial lung disease (ILD), made a meaningful contribution to the Canadian Registry of Pulmonary Fibrosis (CARE-PF) database, is completing her Master’s degree in clinical epidemiology and secured a position providing ILD specialist care at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga, Ontario.
Creating Universal Blood-Type Organs for Transplants
You may not have to wait as long for a lung transplant following the promising results of a recent “proof-of-concept” study into creating universal type O blood lungs. Researchers at UHN (University Health Network) in Toronto proved it is possible to convert blood type safely in donor organs intended for transplantation.
CPFF Funded Research Study Fills in Gaps on Lung Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Using health services data between 2000 and 2018 from the province of Ontario, respirologist Dr. Lee Fidler and his co-principal investigator scientist Dr. Andrea Gershon of ICES, along with other colleagues, set out to investigate the incidence and prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis related interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) in the province. The research was conducted at ICES and funded by a $20,000 research grant from CPFF. Read More
More Research News
Be a Guest Speaker.
Are you a medical, pharmaceutical or other professional whose work focuses on pulmonary fibrosis, lung transplantation, patient or caregiver support, or another aspect PF? CPFF is always on the lookout for guest speakers for our ongoing patient education webinars.
Collaborate with CPFF
Are you a med student, physician, or other professional interested in collaborating on a project focusing on pulmonary fibrosis? As Canada’s only national foundation dedicated to PF-focused research, we want to meet you! Please get in touch with us to discuss how we can work together.
