Page 11 - PCIRN-annual-report-2014-flipbook

PCIRN STUDENTS AND TRAINEES Each year PCIRN welcomes students from across the infuenza research spectrum to participate in research projects and to receive funding support through PCIRN. Candidates are nominated by the Principal developments, Miguel joined Dr. Guy Boivin’s and Co-Investigators within the network and laboratory at Université Laval to develop monoclonal funding support is contingent on adherence antibodies to characterize and study the pandemic to CIHR-level quality research. Students are 2009 infuenza virus. In his current PhD studies, Miguel is studying a drift predictive method using a encouraged to present their research at the novel interferometry technology. PCIRN Annual Meeting, and also participate in the PCIRN Curriculum. MÉLANIE SAMSON is a post-doctoral fellow at Université Laval where she is working on the development of mutations in the haemagglutinin CONSTANTINA BOIKOS completed her Masters of Public Health (MScPH) at McGill University. Seeking (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of infuenza a return to infectious disease research, prompted by viruses exposed to neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs). her fascination of all things microbial which began during her undergraduate training in Microbiology and KAREN YAM completed her Ph.D. at McGill Immunology, her PhD thesis currently focuses on the University in Montreal. Her doctoral thesis involved safety of a live-attenuated infuenza virus vaccine in a investigating a non-pathogenic bacterium as a vaccine paediatric population with cystic fbrosis. delivery system. Since November 2010, she has been working as a post-doctoral fellow in the lab SARAH BUCHAN completed her MSc in Global of Dr. Brian Ward located at the Research Institute Health from University College London, with a of the McGill University Health Centre. Her current dissertation focusing on the loss of immunity work focuses on the immunobiology of adjuvants for following malaria interventions in children in sub- infuenza vaccines. Saharan Africa. This led her to working for a Canadian NGO doing operational research in Togo. Prior to KATIE YOUNG completed her M.Sc. in 2009 in starting her PhD in Epidemiology at the University of the department of Microbiology and Immunology Toronto, Sarah joined BORN Ontario, the maternal at McGill University under the supervision of Brian newborn registry for the province, and continues her Ward. Her thesis work focused on the development/ work there today. immune characterization of a novel nasal-inactivated vaccine against Mumps virus, using the Protollin MICHELLE CHANG, RN, is an MPH practicum adjuvant. She remained in Brian Ward’s lab to pursue student at the University of British Columbia where her Ph.D., where she has been analyzing immune she contributed to the 2013 National Ambulatory responses to plant-made infuenza virus-like particle Network Infuenza Surveillance. Under the supervision vaccines. She is currently in the ffth year of her of Dr. Julie Bettinger, Michelle was instrumental in doctorate degree. rapidly collecting and analyzing the 2013 safety data. JOSELINE ZAFACK is a PhD student at the Centre MIGUEL RETAMAL completed his MSc. on swine Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec where she is infuenza virus epidemics at INRS-Armand-Frappier working on adverse events following immunization in Quebec. After gaining broad industrial experience (AEFI) to evaluate their probability of recurrence upon in drug development, production, and immunoassay revaccination. 2014 ANNUAL REPORT 9