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| Dalhousie's Dr. Scott Halperin will lead a national research influenza network. |
Dalhousie Medical School’s Scott Halperin, director of the Canadian Center for Vaccinology, has been chosen to lead a national influenza research network focused on evaluating pandemic influenza vaccines.
The Government of Canada announced $10.8 million in funding for the pan-Canadian research team last Friday. The network will strengthen Canada's capacity to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a pandemic influenza vaccine as well as vaccination programs.
“Networking benefits everyone—the researchers, the funding agencies and the public. This grant allows us to establish formal connections and infrastructure for optimizing research, and increases our readiness for an influenza pandemic” says Dr. Halperin, a professor of pediatrics and microbiology & immunology.
The influenza network is a three-year partnership between the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Public Health Agency of Canada. It will link more than 80 scientists from 30 research and public health institutions across the country.
"The development and delivery of an effective influenza vaccine are critical to addressing the H1N1 flu virus, said Canada’s Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq at last Friday’s announcement. “This research network will help ensure that Canadians have a safe vaccine that can be provided quickly."
It is believed the H1N1 virus, which health officials believe originated in Mexico, may morph into a stronger, more serious strain in time for next flu season. The majority of people infected with H1N1 have presented with mild symptoms to date.
Scientists belonging to the influenza network will: test methodologies for the performance of rapid clinical trials; assess the safety and immunogenicity of a novel pandemic influenza vaccine; provide population-based estimates of vaccine safety and effectiveness; measure vaccine coverage; and facilitate the rapid implementation of pandemic influenza vaccine programs. The vaccine effectiveness program will be led by Dr. Shelly McNeil, an associate professor of medicine at Dalhousie University, while the training and knowledge translation portfolio of the network will be led by Dr. Robert Bortolussi, professor of pediatrics and microbiology & immunology.
The network’s research will help inform governments and the Canadian public health community on how to prepare for a flu pandemic.