Thank you for RAISING HOPE® for the field of epigenetics research

Scientists believe that epigenetics is behind many complex and poorly understood disorders in children. At Children’s Health Research Institute (CHRI), epigenetic research is focused on reducing the risk of childhood diseases and illnesses such as low birth weight, developmental disabilities and childhood cancers.

Your support is helping us attract the brightest and the best.

Some of the successful achievements to date:

• The identification of a gene called FGF21 that is inactivated by an epigenetic mechanism in cases of pancreatic disease.This identification will help explain why children with the same gene mutation can have different symptoms or severity of pancreatic disease.
• Identification of genes that could be affected in children with the developmental disability known as ATR-X syndrome – a congenital syndrome that affects the brain as well as bone growth and development. Knowing what genes might be affected could open the door to new research toward early diagnosis and intervention.
• In May 2011, the inaugural Canadian Conference on Epigentics was held in London, Ontario. Thirty internationally renowned speakers presented their work to over 200 scientists and students from eight different countries.  The conference led to the formation of a committee to investigate the creation of the first Canadian Epigentics Society.

Epigenetics is one of the most rapidly growing areas in biomedical research. Epigenetics research will improve our understanding of disorders that are caused by alterations in the expression as opposed to the DNA sequence of multiple genes.

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With your help, we can continue to improve our understanding and treatment of childhood genetic disorders. Donate Now.

For the complete Donor Update on Epigenetics click here.