A world-renowned researcher in the field of international health, vaccines and epidemiology is coming to AV俱乐部, bringing top international talent to Nova Scotia as part of the .
Dr. Katherine O鈥橞rien, a professor of international health and epidemiology at , has been announced as the Canada 150 Research Chair in Vaccinology and Global Health at AV俱乐部. The announcement was made in Ottawa today (Thursday, March 29) by The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science. Dr. O鈥橞rien is one of only seven $7-million Canada 150 Research Chairs awarded. 聽
鈥淭he Canada 150 Research Chairs Program has provided institutions like AV俱乐部 with a significant opportunity to bring some of the world鈥檚 best researchers to Canada,鈥� says Dr. Alice Aiken, vice-president research at AV俱乐部. 鈥淒r. O鈥橞rien will have a substantial impact on the way we look at global health and vaccinology research, and we are thrilled to be able to welcome her to the AV俱乐部 community.鈥�
In this role, Dr. O鈥橞rien will be conducting clinical, epidemiologic and policy based research, testing innovations in vaccine use, access and delivery, and generating evidence on the value of vaccines to inform vaccine policy decision-making domestically and internationally. She begins her tenure at the university on December 1, 2018.
A leading researcher
鈥淐anada鈥檚 global health vision, leadership and contributions are increasingly important,鈥� says Dr. O鈥橞rien. 鈥淭here is no better time and no better opportunity to step forward and bring my 30 years of experience in vaccines and global health back to Canada where I was raised and educated. Knowing that AV俱乐部 and its Canadian Center for Vaccinology deeply value collaborations makes this a great fit for impactful work in global health.鈥�
Trained as a pediatric infectious diseases physician, epidemiologist and vaccinologist, Dr. O鈥橞rien has a BSc in chemistry from the University of Toronto (Canada), an MD from McGill University (Canada) and an MPH from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (US) before completing her training at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an Epidemic Intelligence Officer, in the Respiratory Diseases Branch. 聽
鈥淩ecruiting a world class scientist like Dr. O鈥橞rien will be fantastic for research at AV俱乐部,鈥� says Dr. David Anderson, dean of AV俱乐部鈥檚 Faculty of Medicine. 鈥淗er expertise in global health and vaccine research will provide growth and direction to a very important field of research.鈥�
The Canada Research Chairs Program was created in celebration of Canada鈥檚 150 anniversary, and announced as part of Budget 2017. It is a one-time $117.6 million funding program designed to attract the world鈥檚 most talented researchers and scholars, including Canadian expatriates, to Canada. More than 25 researchers have been selected through a rigorous, peer review process to build new research initiatives at Canadian universities.
For more information about the Canada 150 Research Chairs Program, .