Harper Government Supports New Research Chair on Childhood Vaccines

Halifax researcher to focus on improving pediatric vaccines and boosting immunization strategies for children

HALIFAX, April 15, 2013 /CNW/ - Senator Thomas Johnson McInnis, on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, announced today that Dr. Joanne Langley is the recipient of the new CIHR-GSK Chair in Pediatric Vaccinology.

Dr. Langley is a professor at Dalhousie University, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at IWK Health Centre, and director of the Clinical Evaluation Group at the Canadian Center for Vaccinology in Halifax. The chair will provide funding to support Dr. Langley's work in the development and improvement of vaccines for children, including the way vaccines are administered. Her research will also look at immunization strategies for preventing influenza and other respiratory problems in children.

Senator McInnis applauded the work of Dr. Langley and her colleagues. "Our Government is proud to partner with GSK and invest in the excellent work health researchers are doing right here in Nova Scotia. The work to be undertaken by Dr. Langley and her team will help advance immunization strategies for kids and ensure Canada remains a leader in this evolving field."

The new chair is supported by a $700,000 investment from the Harper Government through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). The funding is part of Canada's Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research, a national initiative to ensure better translation of research findings into clinical practice.

"Canada is fortunate to have a strong community of internationally-recognized infectious disease researchers, such as Dr. Langley, who are truly putting patients first," says Dr. Alain Beaudet, President of CIHR. "This additional investment in the research of Dr. Langley and her team will ensure Canadian children and their families continue to receive safe and effective vaccines to prevent infections."

"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," said Glenn Crater, Country Medical Director at GlaxoSmithKline Inc. "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."

Senator McInnis made the announcement while visiting the Canadian Center for Vaccinology. The Center is a collaboration between Dalhousie University, the IWK Health Centre, and Capital Health. It was established to develop, implement, and evaluate vaccine technologies and vaccines for infectious diseases that have a significant impact on Canadian and global health.

The Harper Government remains focused on four priorities, as outlined by the Prime Minister, that Canadians care most about: their families, the safety of our streets and communities, their pride in being a citizen of this country, and of course, their personal financial security.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's health research investment agency. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 14,100 health researchers and trainees across Canada. www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is a leading research-based pharmaceutical company with a challenging and inspiring mission: to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better, and live longer. This mission gives GSK the purpose to develop innovative medicines, vaccines and healthcare solutions that help millions of people. GSK is consistently recognized as one of the 50 best employers in Canada and is a top 20 investor in Canadian research and development, contributing $118 million in 2011 alone. With a proud tradition of charitable and community support, GSK is designated a Caring Company by Imagine Canada. Discover more at www.gsk.ca .

SOURCE: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Cailin Rodgers, Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, 613-957-0200
David Coulombe, CIHR Media Relations, 613-941-4563 Cell: 613-808-7526
Allison Gerrard, Dalhousie Medical School Media Relations, 902-494-1789

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