Philanthropy is the engine that drives rare disease research. The Donald K. Jackson Family Foundation’s longstanding support for research into a chronic lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is no exception.
IPF causes progressive scarring of the lung, leading to worsening lung function over time. Currently lung transplantation is the only available therapy for patients with end stage IPF. Scientists do not yet know what causes IPF and why it progresses more quickly in some people than in others. Support from the Donald K. Jackson Family Foundation is empowering Dr. Shaf Keshavjee, Director of the Toronto Lung Transplant Program at UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre, Chief of Innovation at UHN and Director of the Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories and Dr. Tom Waddell, thoracic surgeon in UHN’s Sprott Department of Surgery and Ajmera Transplant Centre, to search for these answers – and someday, a cure.
A unique hub for IPF research
UHN is the only place in Canada that has a comprehensive IPF program including clinical care, research, and education activities that span early symptomatic disease through to lung transplantation, the only treatment for late-stage IPF.
This unique and comprehensive lens on the full spectrum of IPF is essential as the team works to understand the many forms of the disease as it develops and to uncover what mechanisms drive its progression so they can identify potential targets for treatment. They are working to find solutions that will revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of IPF, and dramatically improve the lives of patients.
Support from the Jackson family has helped the program develop into the global powerhouse that it is today. With their most recent gift of $3 million to establish the Donald K. Jackson Chair in Lung Transplant Research, the family is continuing this exceptional commitment to transformative research.
“The support of donors like Don and his family is essential to making real progress towards treatment for IPF, and improvements to lung transplantation overall,” says Dr. Keshavjee. “We are grateful to them for their trust and partnership, and dedication to making a real difference for everyone living with IPF.”
A dual focus on understanding IPF and creating tomorrow’s treatments
Through their gift, the Donald K. Jackson Family Foundation is powering research by Drs. Keshavjee and Waddell and their teams in two core focus areas. First, the team is investigating the causes and mechanisms that drive IPF. A better understanding of the disease could uncover potential treatment strategies. As part of this goal, the team at UHN led the creation of CARE-PF, the world’s largest multicenter registry for IPF and other interstitial lung diseases. Second, they are finding ways to repair more lungs for transplantation – and even someday build entirely new ones – so that every patient who needs a lung transplant will receive one. This will have significant impacts for every person living with severe lung disease. Finally, they are testing new drugs on human lungs with IPF removed at transplant to hopefully create treatments to prevent or treat IPF in the body so that no one would need a lung transplant.
Did you know?
Over half of the lung transplants performed at UHN are to treat advanced IPF.
