Research and Healthcare Providers
The Quest to Find a Cure for pulmonary fibrosis
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 for pulmonary fibrosis.
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.
2024-2025 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.
Respiratory researchers share their findings at Toronto 2024 Canadian Respiratory Conference
More than 55 experts delivered sessions on a vast array of research, covering a variety of respiratory diseases, such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD and ILD. Presentations were not recorded and were geared to respiratory health care professionals, however highlights of presentations may also interest anyone with a desire to learn about lung health.
CPFF fellow investigates unclassifiable ILD
A native of Winnipeg, Dr. Leigh Minuk made her way to Toronto to complete her residency in internal medicine and then respirology. While at Toronto General Hospital, she became familiar with ILD patients and their struggles and was determined to help make a difference in their lives.
CPFF Robert Davidson Fellowships fill a gap in ILD care
A recent graduate of CPFF’s Robert Davidson Fellowship, Amanda Grant-Orser, told the CPFF Board during a presentation in June, that the CPFF fellowships provide a structure for ILD clinical practice and research that is not available in any Canadian residency training program.
A unique case sparks a passion for ILD research and patient care
“My interest in ILD began during my respirology elective, when I cared for a 30-year-old man with PPFE (Pleuro Parenchymal Fibro Elastosis, a rare ILD).” This is how Dr. Bohyung Min began her application for a CPFF Robert Davidson Fellowship.
CPFF Robert Davidson Fellow makes progress on two research fronts
Dr. Alec Campbell has almost completed the first-year of his two-year CPFF Robert Davidson fellowship. During this time, he has cared for patients at St. Paul’s ILD clinic in Vancouver and taken the lead on two complex research projects. One involves the use of AI (artificial intelligence) to interpret CT scans and the other addresses genetic analysis of blood samples to aid in ILD diagnosis and treatment.
Developing clarity in CT scan analysis for better PF diagnosis
Dr. Daniel Marinescu completed a two-year, CPFF Robert Davidson Fellowship, last summer, and will soon publish a large study investigating how the features on a CT scan contribute to the diagnosis of different types of ILD.
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.
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.
