DEMONSTRATING PROGRESS: A MESSAGE FROM SCIENTIFIC & MEDICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL CHAIR AND CHIEF SCIENCE & EDUCATION OFFICER


Over the past 40 years, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada has become a world-leader in the fight against inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Investing in the best research has led to significant progress in our understanding of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. We now know more about what causes these diseases, how they develop, and how best to treat patients living with Crohn’s or colitis than we did four decades ago – when the organization was first established in 1974. Our research programs have also built a scientific community that is highly competitive in securing additional funding from government and industry and that is regarded as world-class.


In 2013–2014, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada invested more than $7.5 million in leading-edge research supporting 36 research projects, 16 fellowship and studentship training awards, and two scientific conferences aimed at advancing Crohn’s and colitis treatments and improving the quality of life for patients across the country. As the largest non-governmental funder of IBD research in Canada, we are leading the fight against Crohn’s and colitis.


In 2013/14 Crohn’s and Colitis Canada began implementing its new Research Strategy, which aims to hasten discoveries into patient benefits through a balanced and more strategic approach. Research is expensive and time-consuming. It takes years to complete a single study and even longer to move research breakthroughs from the lab into clinical practice. As such, the Research Strategy identifies four key priorities for its research investments:


1. Building Capacity (supports training of young scientists)


2. Moving Knowledge into Practice (supports scientific conferences to share knowledge


between researchers and clinicians)


3. Targeting Research (supports partnerships and initiatives in strategic priority areas)


4. Supporting Innovation (supports discovery research through operating grants and pilot


projects)


Aida Fernandes, MBA Chief Science & Education Officer


Mark Silverberg, MD, PhD Chair, Scientific & Medical Advisory Council


Warmest wishes,


Our Research Strategy will ensure that Crohn’s and Colitis Canada’s research investments will have maximal impact on the lives of nearly 250,000 Canadian children and adults living with inflammatory bowel disease and reflect the needs of our stakeholder communities. However, there is still more work to be done to deliver on Our Promise. Continued research investments in all of these areas are vital to cultivate research excellence in Canada, contribute to sustaining our economy, and advance new treatments that will improve the quality of life for people living with Crohn’s and colitis.


The progress highlighted in this Research Report would not have been made possible without the unwavering support of our researchers, clinicians, donors, partners, sponsors and volunteers. Your commitment to the Crohn’s and Colitis Canada ensures that Canada remains a global leader in IBD research. We hope you enjoy learning about our accomplishments.


1 | RESEARCH REPORT 2014


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