The Canucks for Kids Fund Childhood Diabetes Laboratories was established in 2012 with its aim to improve the lives of children with diabetes by advancing knowledge of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, through innovative and multi-disciplinary basic and clinical diabetes research. Research is aimed at understanding the causes of types 1 and 2 diabetes and improving treatments.
Our team brings together researchers from a variety of backgrounds – including virology, genetics, immunology, islet biology, and clinical diabetes research – to tackle this complex disease. Our investigators have extensive ties with the international diabetes research community and participate in international clinical trials for diabetes.
In 2018 the BC Diabetes Research Network was established at the BC Children’s Hospital with a grant from the University of British Columbia. The BCDRN is a provincial network to connect diabetes researchers from across British Columbia. The network is a resource for the faculty, trainees and staff engaged in diabetes research across British Columbia. BC Diabetes Research Network website.
Fast Facts
Housed at the research facilities at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute in the Translational Research Building- The Canucks for Kids Fund Childhood Diabetes Laboratories were created in 2002 with a $9-million award from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund
- In 2016 received $8.1 million award from Canada Foundation for Innovation and British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund for new instruments and technology
- 12 core investigators including 4 new recruits
- In the past 5 years, diabetes investigators have supervised over 100 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, and more than 80 undergraduates.
- Created 50 new jobs with support from international, industrial and charitable funders
- Since 2009, diabetes researchers have made 7 invention disclosures, filed 17 patents (provisional and utility), and filed 2 interinstitutional/option agreements.
2025 Canucks for Kids Fund Diabetes Catalyst Grant Competition
April 2025
Congratulations to our 2025 Canucks for Kids Fund Catalyst Award recipients:
Dr. Angela Devlin
Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia
Co-Director, Women+ and Children’s Health Research Graduate Program
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
$50,000
Understanding maternal folic acid biology in immune cell function and relevance to type 2
diabetes in children
Women are recommended to take a folic acid (B-vitamin) supplement during pregnancy to prevent a birth defect that affects the developing brain. However, many women in Canada are consuming folic acid at 2-5x higher doses than recommended. This has raised concern because there is evidence that too much folic acid during pregnancy may negatively impact the developing fetus and contribute to risk for type 2 diabetes in the child. In this catalyst grant, we will determine if folic acid affects how immune cells function and role this may play in conferring risk for type 2 diabetes in children.
Dr. William Gibson
Professor, Dept. of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia
Investigator and Senior Clinician Scientist, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
$50,000
New Mouse Model of Epigenetic Diabetes
With prior CFKF funding, we have made “minimally-humanized” mice that have the human sequence of the EZH2 gene replacing a key piece of the mouse Ezh2 gene. Surprisingly, this minimal change doesn’t affect the protein sequence but does reduce the activity of the protein complex that includes Ezh2. Other scientists have shown that “knocking out” the mouse Ezh2 gene in insulin-producing islet cells causes early-onset diabetes, so we want to test our “knockdown” mice for later-onset diabetes caused by failure to maintain insulin production.
Dr. Carolina Silva
Clinical Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, University of British Columbia
Investigator and Pediatric Endocrinologist, BC Children’s Hospital
$25,000
Interprofessional collaboration among pediatric diabetes providers in British Columbia: a social network analysis study
Teamwork is crucial for caring for children and youth with diabetes. In British Columbia, we are creating a virtual program (i.e, community of practice) where pediatricians, endocrinologists, nurses, and dietitians can connect, share knowledge, and discuss challenging cases. Using innovative tools, we will study how often providers communicate, how much they trust each other, and the strength and meaning of their relationships, both before and one year after the program. Insights from this project will help improve teamwork among healthcare providers and can guide similar efforts for other health conditions, leading to better outcomes for patients.
Dr. Tricia Tang
Associate Professor, Medicine, University of British Columbia
Affiliate Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
$50,000
The REACHOUT NexGEN pilot study: A mobile app that delivers peer-led mental health support to adolescents with type 1 diabetes
Many adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) carry an emotional burden of relentless worry and ongoing frustration that come with managing a complex chronic illness. Peer support can provide valuable assistance, and our project will evaluate a mobile app, adapted from a T1D adult model, to create a supportive environment for peer-led mental health support for adolescents with T1D. It will offer one-on-one, group-based, and virtual face-to-face support that each user can access at the frequency and intensity they desire. If successful, this approach may be applied to T1D adolescent populations across other Canadian provinces.
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