New Dal Med School Chair In Pediatric Vaccinology Aims To Improve Flu Prevention For Kids
April 17th, 2013
The funding for the Dalhousie chair will support Dr. Langley’s work in the development and improvement of vaccines for children — from the fetal period through to young adulthood.
“Over the last few decades, we’ve witnessed the important role vaccines have played in eradicating serious diseases; however, there still remain critical diseases for which effective vaccines are not yet available. We are proud to fund this important research and are confident that Dr. Langley’s work will help us identify and develop innovative health care solutions that will ultimately improve the health of people in Canada, and around the world.” — Glenn Crater, country medical director, GlaxoSmithKline Inc.
The new chair is supported by a $700,000 partnered investment from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and GlaxoSmithKline, with additional support from Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation, Academic Pediatrics Incorporated, Dalhousie Department of Pediatrics, the IWK Health Centre, and Canadian Center for Vaccinology.
As chair, Dr. Langley, pediatrician, epidemiologist and public health advisor to various levels of government, will work her research, clinical and teaching work with a diverse local and national team of vaccine researchers. The research program will be based at Halifax’s Canadian Center for Vaccinology (CCfV). The CCfV is a collaboration of Dalhousie University, the IWK Health Centre, and Capital Health.
Dr. Langley’s research will aim to improve the prevention of influenza and other respiratory infections through improved vaccines and refined vaccine programs. Dr. Langley will also work to strengthen interdisciplinary research at the CCfV and on training and attracting highly skilled personnel.
Immunization has been described by the World Health Organization as a core component of human health, and a means by which children and adolescents, free from the threat of vaccine-preventable diseases, can achieve their full potential. It’s anticipated that the coming decade will be one of unprecedented progress in vaccine innovation, development, and program delivery.