BC Environmental and Occupational Health Research Network

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to contribute to Canadian preparedness for outbreak research and support Canada’s pandemic and influenza research community. This goal of this program is to provide application development funds to team leaders with expertise in the areas of influenza and pandemic who can bring together a research team in key areas that will require a research response when an outbreak occurs. Through peer review, CIHR and PHAC will identify the top team leader in each of the relevant research areas described in this funding opportunity. Applications will include a short outline of the research approach and why they are the best candidate to lead a team in this area. When an outbreak occurs, it is anticipated that additional research funding will be available and the identified team leaders will be asked to describe the members of their team, their research plan and a budget in an abbreviated application for expedited peer review and funding.

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to further strengthen Canadian research in preparation for a potential influenza pandemic by supporting the establishment of an Influenza Research Network (IRN). The Network will conduct applied public health research respecting: 1) the development and testing of appropriate methodologies to rapidly evaluate candidate vaccines for safety and immunogenicity in persons of all ages; and 2) the development and testing of suitable population-based methods to evaluate vaccine effectiveness and safety following release for general use. It is anticipated that this targeted investment will ensure surge capacity and mechanisms for rapid data collection, analysis and evaluation before and during a pandemic; as well as ensure a readily trained and available research capacity. It is also anticipated that the establishment of the IRN will aid in the continued development of pandemic preparedness plans. The establishment of an IRN will mobilize nation-wide research experience and talent in vaccine evaluation. The IRN will assemble a critical mass of experience and talent by linking individual researchers and/or research centers involved in vaccine evaluation, building on their core competencies and coordinating their efforts. Collectively, they will be positioned to achieve more than the sum of their individual efforts.