Ways to Give
When you partner with the Sharon Francis Foundation, you have the opportunity to donate into a focus area that is closest to your heart. Everyone is motivated differently, by different experiences in their lives and as an organization we want to make sure our donors have the opportunity to contribute to the area that matters most to them. This is why we have created various Funds, each one originating from the main pillars of our Mission: Uncover ground-breaking advances in the way we detect, manage, and treat Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias.
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DETECT
According to the World Alzheimer Report 2022 Life after diagnosis: Navigating treatment, care and support, despite the remarkable progress made in the understanding of aging and dementia, successful dementia prevention strategies have not yet been made available in healthcare systems. Dementia is a slow progressing and indolent neurodegenerative condition that evolves over many years. This prolonged development phase strengthens the concept of dementia prevention during the early phases via early identification, even prior to symptom development.
“I wish to give others the possibility to enjoy more years with their loved ones.” — Dr. Robert Francis
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MANAGE
Dr. Robert Francis believes that it is extremely important for family and friends to keep loved ones engaged in as many activities as physically possible because, deep inside, they want to stay connected, active, and included. One of the aims of the foundation is to support initiatives designed to support the caregivers and encourage compassion as a way to improve the post-diagnosis experience of those with the illness as well as their support circle.
Dementia Management and Care Robert Francis Fund
McGill Cares: Life, Love, Strength: A Doctor's Journey of Caring for his Wife
Dr. Francis talks about his experience caring for his wife Sharon, and how her life with Alzheimer’s drives his mission to find a cure and improve the lives of those now living with the disease.
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TREAT
The latest Report on Alzheimer’s disease confirms that there has been no new treatment developed in the last two decades to alleviate the symptoms of dementia. Some treatments are available; however, they treat some, but not all, dementia symptoms. With respect to disease modifying treatments (those that delay onset or progression of dementia), there is great interest in developing ones that can modify pathophysiological factors in dementia. This means the world desperately needs innovations to alleviate the cognitive and behavioral symptoms that are associated with dementia and that is why we are so determined to move the needle in Alzheimer’s research, both in the medicine and regenerative medicine disciplines.
Innovations in Alzheimer’s Research Sharon Francis Memorial Fund
FOCUS AREAS
DETECT
Dementia risk reduction through early detection of disease progression, prior to symptom development.
MANAGE
Improve the post-diagnosis experience of those with the illness as well as their support circle.
TREAT
Develop treatments that can modify disease and symptoms in dementia.
REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
GRANTS DISTRIBUTED
250 K
Project: McGill Dementia Education Program
Institute: McGill University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Steinberg Centre for Simulation and Interactive Learning
Funded by the Management and Care Robert Francis Fund
150 K
Project: The contribution of inflammation on differences between Young-onset and Late-onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Investigator: Dr. Carmela Tartaglia
Institute: University Health Network (UHN)
Funded by the Innovations in Alzheimer’s research Sharon Francis Memorial Fund
200 K
Project: Discovering the genetic regulators of human central nervous system (CNS) axon regeneration.
Investigator: Yun Li
Co-Investigator: Julien Muffat
Institute: Hospital for Sick Children
Funded by the Brain Regenerative Discovery Fund