AV俱乐部

Dr. Joanne Langley, professor of pediatrics and community health and epidemiology at AV俱乐部 Medical School, and an infectious diseases specialist at the IWK Health Centre, has been appointed AV俱乐部鈥檚 CIHR-GSK Chair in Pediatric Vaccinology. It鈥檚 the only chair of its kind in the country.

鈥淚 am honoured to have this opportunity to focus on prevention of illness, disability, and death by improving and developing vaccines and vaccine programs along with colleagues in basic science, clinical vaccine evaluation, and health policy and translation,鈥� said Dr. Langley.

As chair, Dr. Langley, a pediatrician, epidemiologist, and public health advisor to various levels of government, will aim to improve vaccines for children 鈥� from the fetal period through to young adulthood. She鈥檒l also work to prevent influenza and other respiratory infections through refined vaccine programs.

Experts believe the coming decade may well be one of unprecedented progress in vaccine innovation, development and program delivery. At AV俱乐部 Medical School, more than 40 AV俱乐部 investigators, all affiliated with the IWK or Capital Health, are pursuing vaccine research at Halifax鈥檚 Canadian Center for Vaccinology.

鈥淥ur researchers are world pioneers in child and maternal immunity, and play a leadership role in national influenza studies,鈥� said Dr. Gerry Johnston, the medical school鈥檚 associate dean of research. 鈥淯niversity chair holders are at the top of their field; Dr. Langley is widely recognized as one of Canada鈥檚 top vaccinology researchers.鈥�

The new chair is supported by a $700,000 partnered investment from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and GlaxoSmithKline, with additional support from AV俱乐部 Medical Research Foundation, Academic Pediatrics Incorporated, the AV俱乐部 Department of Pediatrics, the IWK Health Centre and the Canadian Center for Vaccinology.

Dr. Langley鈥檚 research program will be based at the Canadian Center for Vaccinology, which is a collaborative partnership between AV俱乐部, the IWK, and Capital Health.

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