Role of Jacob’s Ladder in the funding ecosystem
Jacob’s Ladder, The Canadian Foundation for the Control of Neurodegenerative Disease, was founded in 1998 by family members, business and community leaders, physicians and researchers. Its goal was to benefit children like Jacob Schwartz and to reduce the occurrence of devastating childhood neurodegenerative diseases through research, screening and awareness. Over more than two decades, the charity became a key private funder connected to Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and other clinical and research partners.
The foundation concentrated its giving on genetic medicine, complex care and rare neurodegenerative disorders in childhood. It financed investigator-led projects at SickKids, supported development of disease models, and helped advance understanding of genes such as PLA2G6 through multi‑year research grants.
Main funding mechanisms and programs
- Norman Saunders / Jacob’s Ladder International Research Prize – An annual award recognizing an outstanding scientist in genetics or childhood neurological disease, named in honour of Jacob’s physician. Recipients from leading institutions worldwide were invited to Toronto to share their work and speak at SickKids Grand Rounds.
- Jacob’s Ladder Fellowship Awards – Competitive research fellowships where shortlisted researchers presented their projects on neurodegenerative disease. Donors selected the projects to receive two years of research funding support, enabling early‑stage, high‑impact investigations.
- Targeted research grants – Multi‑year grants, such as the two‑year funding described by Dr. Gabrielle Boulianne, allowed laboratories to build robust disease models, study patient‑specific mutations and lay the groundwork for individualized therapies.
- Legacy and care initiatives – Beyond laboratory science, Jacob’s Ladder funded the Norman Saunders Complex Care Initiative, supported genetic screening and awareness for multiple neurodegenerative illnesses, and created a lasting physical legacy through the Jacob’s Ladder Therapeutic Pool at the Lebovic Campus JCC in Vaughan.
Publics served and geographic focus
The foundation’s funding primarily supported institutions and researchers in Canada, with a strong anchor at SickKids in Toronto and collaborations that reached other centres such as the Montreal Neurological Institute and international universities. Its ultimate beneficiaries were children and families affected by neurodegenerative diseases across Canada and, indirectly, patients worldwide through advances in genetics and neurology.
Legacy and transition
Although Jacob’s Ladder formally ceased operations at the end of 2019, its impact continues. An endowment at the SickKids Hospital Foundation now ensures that the Jacob’s Ladder Norman Saunders International Research Prize is awarded annually, sustaining recognition and support for cutting‑edge research. Additional legacy initiatives, such as Jake’s Award for Extraordinary Healthcare Providers at Holland Bloorview and the therapeutic pool project, extend the foundation’s values of compassion, community engagement and scientific progress well into the future.