Page 3 - CCfV-Annual-Report-2013-14

Message from the Director Scott Halperin, MD Looking back at our accomplishments in 2013, we can indeed be proud of our continued contribution to evaluate and improve vaccines, reinforcing their important role in the health of Canadians and people around the world. One of the highlights of 2013 was the CIHR- GSK Chair in pediatric vaccinology awarded to Joanne Langley in April. Te Chair includes a $2m endowment from GlaxoSmithKline, Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation, Academic In this report we also recognize the essential Pediatrics Incorporated, IWK Health Centre and contribution of personnel and voluntary CCfV, with ongoing support of $700,000 from participants needed to develop and execute GlaxoSmithKline and Canadian Institutes of vaccine research. Afer years of laboratory testing, Health Research. a vaccine must undergo clinical testing ranging from frst in human phase 1 studies, through to Our annual education highlight – Infectious phase 3 studies that demonstrate the vaccine’s Diseases Research Day / CCfV Symposium – safety and efcacy. Tousands of people are continues to showcase accomplished international needed for the numerous clinical trials that ensure and local researchers in two half days of vaccines are safe and efective. Investigators and presentations, poster and oral abstracts. Te sponsors prepare study protocols; coordinators, bi-weekly CCfV Education Series, available via nurses and research assistants manage study webinar for those who cannot attend in person, logistics; laboratory technicians analyze clinical provides leading edge presentations and discussion specimens; statisticians design databases to on topics that are important to research and public analyze and report data from various sources; policy. fnancial managers oversee and report on each study and activity; administrators provide Multidisciplinary research remains a vital goal communications, meeting and event logistics, and of CCfV, driven by our members from a variety records management. of backgrounds and disciplines. Our expanding research with pharmacists and their role as Added to these necessary personnel is the immunizers is supported by new members from multitude of volunteers willing to participate Dalhousie University’s College of Pharmacy, in surveys and clinical tests that generate Jennifer Isenor and Susan Bowles. As the number the evidence needed to evaluate the safety, of vaccines for adults increases, so does our need efectiveness and acceptance of immunization. All to understand the impact of aging on immune of these people, and many more, make it possible response. Lisa Barrett, another new member, to control, eliminate and even eradicate diseases brings this necessary expertise. Our geographic by using vaccines. reach expanded when we welcomed Carolyn Sanford, provincial epidemiologist for PEI, and We acknowledge all those who currently assist Marina Ulanova from the Northern Ontario this research, and all those who have done so since School of Medicine. Edward Jenner’s initial research in the 18 century. th Annual Report | 2013-14 1