Regions
The CANVAS Network is a platform operating out of six provinces and one territory across the country including a Coordinating Centre located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Locations: Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island (PEI), Quebec, and the Yukon
Coordinating Centre
The Vaccine Evaluation Center
BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
University of British Columbia, Vancouver
950 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC,
V5Z 4H4, Canada
The Vaccine Evaluation Center (VEC) was established in 1988. It was the first academic center for independent vaccine research in Canada and has been an international leader in vaccinology research. The VEC is jointly supported by BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and the University of British Columbia.
co-Principal Investigator
Dr. Julie Bettinger
Investigator,
BC Children’s Hospital Professor,
Division of Infectious Diseases,
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine,
University of British Columbia
Dr. Bettinger is a Professor at the Vaccine Evaluation Center in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests include vaccine safety and vaccine preventable diseases as well as attitudes and beliefs around immunization uptake and use. She is the epidemiologist for the Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT), an active surveillance network for vaccine preventable diseases in 14 tertiary care pediatric hospitals across Canada and the co-lead investigator for CANVAS.
Co-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Matthew P. Muller
Clinician-Investigator,
St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto
Investigator, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control and Infectious Diseases Consultant,
Unity Health Toronto Associate Proessor,
Department of Medicine
University of Toronto
Dr. Muller as an infectious disease physician and hospital epidemiologist at Unity Health Toronto and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Muller chairs the Ontario Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee on Infection Prevention and Control (PIDAC). Dr. Muller’s research focusing on the epidemiology and prevention of healthcare associated infections. Dr. Muller has been the St. Michael’s Hospital principle investigator for the Canadian National Vaccine Safety (CANVAS) Network for several years and is the co-lead for CANVAS.
CANVAS Network Project Manager
Karen Simmons
Vaccine Evaluation Center,
BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute,
University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Karen joined the Vaccine Evaluation Center (VEC) in 2018 after completing an MSc. in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Since 2019, Karen has been part of the management team at the VEC contributing to the successful completion of dozens of projects.
Data Manager
Kimberly Marty
Vaccine Evaluation Center,
BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute,
University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Ms. Marty has been involved in research for 30 years, working in clinical data management for the past 25 years. Ms. Marty obtained her BSc from UBC.
Data COORDINATOR
Moha Gaeini
Vaccine Evaluation Center,
BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute,
University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Moha is a software engineer with extensive experience in clinical data management in both Iran and Canada. Since joining the Vaccine Evaluation Center at the University of British Columbia in 2023, he has coordinated data operations for studies on RSV, H5N1, and COVID-19/Flu.
Alberta
ACHIEVE Research​
The Alberta Children’s Hospital Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology and Vaccine Evaluation (ACHIEVE) Research Team studies vaccine preventable infections, particularly in children, vaccine clinical trials, and vaccine evaluation projects.
The ACHIEVE Research Team is affiliated with the University of Calgary, Alberta Health Services (Calgary Zone) and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI).
Co-Investigator​
Dr. Otto G. Vanderkooi, MD FRCPC DTMH
Investigator,
Alberta Children’s Hospital, University of Calgary & Alberta Health Services
Section Chief,
Pediatric Infectious Diseases,
Alberta Children’s Hospital Professor,
Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (MID) and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary
Dr. Vanderkooi is a Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist, Medical Microbiologist, Tropical Medicine Specialist and Medical Leader at the Alberta Children's Hospital and a Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics, Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary. He is an investigator in multiple local, national and international studies primarily in the areas of vaccine preventable illnesses and the epidemiology of infectious diseases. He has led a number of CANVAS projects in Calgary for both influenza and COVID-19.
Co-Investigator​​
Dr. Jim Kellner, MD
Investigator,
Alberta Children’s Hospital, University of Calgary & Alberta Health Services,
Clinician Primary Researcher,
Alberta Children’s Hospital, Calgary,
Professor,
Departments of Pediatrics; Community Health Sciences; Microbiology, Immunology & Infectious Diseases,
University of Calgary
Dr. Kellner is a paediatrician and subspecialist in paediatric infectious diseases and clinical epidemiology. His research focuses on vaccine preventable infections, working closely with experts from clinical medicine and public health across Canada and globally. Between 2008-2018 he was the Head of Paediatrics at the University of Calgary and the Calgary Zone of Alberta Health Services. Dr. Kellner has served on the Alberta Advisory Committee on Immunization since 2002 and was Chair for a decade. He was a member of the federal COVID-19 Immunity Task Force Leadership Group (www.covid19immunitytaskforce.ca) and Co-Chair of the Task Force’s Field Studies Working Party.
Site Coordinator​
Joslyn Gray
ACHIEVE Research Manager,
Alberta Children’s Hospital,
University of Calgary & Alberta Health Services
In her role with the ACHIEVE Research Team, Joslyn has managed multiple clinical trials, vaccine evaluation, and epidemiology studies. She coordinates the planning and conduct of numerous single-centre and multi-centre clinical research studies and clinical trials. Under Joslyn’s leadership, over the past decade more than 40,000 people have been enrolled into Alberta’s CANVAS surveillance program.
British Columbia & Yukon
The Vaccine Evaluation Center​
The Vaccine Evaluation Center (VEC) was established in 1988. It was the first academic center for independent vaccine research in Canada and has been an international leader in vaccinology research. The VEC is jointly supported by BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and the University of British Columbia.
The VEC acts as the coordinating centre for CANVAS' nationwide surveillance program.
co-Investigator
Dr. Manish Sadarangani
Investigator,
BC Children’s Hospital Sauder Family Chair in Pediatric Infectious Diseases,
University of British Columbia
Associate Professor,
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine,
University of British Columbia
Dr. Sadarangani has led the Vaccine Evaluation Center (VEC) since 2016. He joined the VEC from The Children’s Hospital in Oxford, UK, where he was a Clinical Lecturer and Consultant in Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology. Dr. Sadarangani’s research aims are to lower the burden of childhood infectious disease through vaccination by building an evidence base for local, national, and international vaccine policy. Dr. Sadarangani’s research program includes laboratory studies to develop new and better vaccines, clinical trials to identify how best to utilize new and approved vaccines, and population-based investigations to identify targets for new vaccines and to demonstrate vaccine impact.
STUDY COORDINATOR
Aarthi Nirmal
Vaccine Evaluation Center,
BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute,
University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Aarthi began her role as a Research Coordinator at the Vaccine Evaluation Center in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia in 2023. She has also been the site coordinator for the CANVAS study for British Columbia and Yukon since 2023. She has expansive public health and epidemiological research experience in both Canada and India, having completed her MPH in Epidemiology and International Health from Tulane University, USA.
Nova Scotia
The Canadian Center for Vaccinology​
The Canadian Center for Vaccinology (CCfV) was established in 2007 as a collaboration between Dalhousie University, IWK Health, and Nova Scotia Health. Comprised of the Vaccine Development, Vaccine Evaluation, and the Programs, Policy and Implementation Groups, our research encompasses a wide spectrum of collaborative vaccine research from microbiology to effectiveness, and safety and social issues. CCfV is also home to the Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN).
Co-Investigator​​
Dr. Jennifer E. Isenor
Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Dept. of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University Investigator, Canadian Center for Vaccinology, IWK Health
Dr. Isenor is an Associate Professor at the College of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University and an investigator with the Canadian Center for Vaccinology. Dr. Isenor's immunization-related research focuses on a variety of topics, including assessing the role and impact of pharmacists as immunizers; network surveillance of adverse events following immunization; the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours of immunization healthcare providers and the public, including vaccine hesitancy; and pain mitigation strategies during immunization.
Study Coordinator
Melissa Rioux
Canadian Center for Vaccinology, IWK Health
Melissa has been a member of the Canadian Center for Vaccinology since 2022 and currently works as a Research Coordinator, where she coordinates vaccine clinical trials. Melissa completed her MSc. in Microbiology and Immunology at Dalhousie University before joining CCfV.
Ontario
Unity Health Toronto
Unity Health Toronto, comprised of Providence Healthcare, St. Joseph’s Health Centre and St. Michael’s Hospital, works to advance the health of everyone in our urban communities and beyond. Our health network serves patients, residents and clients across the full spectrum of care, spanning primary care, secondary community care, tertiary and quaternary care services to post-acute through rehabilitation, palliative care and long-term care, while investing in world-class research and education.
Co-Investigator​
Dr. Matthew P. Muller, MD PhD FRCPC
Clinician-Investigator,
St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto,
Investigator, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control and Infectious Diseases Consultant
Unity Health Toronto Associate Professor,
Department of Medicine,
University of Toronto
Dr. Muller as an infectious disease physician and hospital epidemiologist at Unity Health Toronto and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Muller chairs the Ontario Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee on Infection Prevention and Control (PIDAC). Dr. Muller’s research focusing on the epidemiology and prevention of healthcare associated infections. Dr. Muller has been the St. Michael’s Hospital principle investigator for the Canadian National Vaccine Safety (CANVAS) Network for several years and is the co-lead for CANVAS.
Co-Investigator​​
Dr. Allison McGeer, MsC MD FRCPC
Microbiologist and Infectious Disease Consultant,
Mount Sinai Hospital Senior Clinician Scientist
Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of the Sinai Health System Professor,
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology,
Dalla Lana School of Public Health,
University of Toronto
Dr. McGeer is a Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. She is the principal investigator of the Toronto Invasive Bacterial Diseases Network, a collaborative surveillance network that performs surveillance for serious bacterial and viral diseases, including COVID19, in south central Ontario. Dr. McGeer is a co-investigator CANVAS- ON Site.
Site Coordinator​
Saman Khan, MBBS MPH
Ontario Site Coordinator
Saman has been working at Sinai Health Systems since 2007 in The Department of Microbiology, Toronto Invasive Bacterial Disease Network (TIBDN) and Infectious Disease Research Unit (IDRU). Saman has worked on various research projects on population-based surveillance for serious bacterial and viral infections and conducted several vaccine safety & efficacy studies at multiple TIBDN hospitals throughout GTA and surrounding areas.
She is the CANVAS COVID-19 research coordinator at Ontario site. She is an International Medical Graduate and obtained her MPH from University of Waterloo.
Quebec
CRCHUS Research
An approach combining fundamental, clinical, epidemiological, and evaluative research is the distinguishing feature of the CHUS’ research centre. Some 220 top researchers and their teams devote their efforts to six research axes, which address major health concerns:
- Cancer: biology, prognosis, and diagnosis
- Diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular complications
- Health: populations, organization, practices
- Inflammation - Pain
- Medical imagery
- Mother and child.
Investigator
Dr. Louis Valiquette
Professor and chair of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,
Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec
Dr. Valiquette is a professor and chair of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke. He has been involved in CANVAS as the Sherbrooke site lead investigator since the beginning of this project. His other research interests include antimicrobial stewardship with a focus on the development and validation of clinical decision support systems and Clostridium difficile infections. With his team, he has developed an expert system (called APSS) to optimize antimicrobial usage that has been associated with a substantial decrease in antimicrobial consumption, length of stay and savings since its installation in his center.
CO-Investigator
Dr. Philippe Martin
Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,
Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec
Dr. Philippe Martin has been an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the Université de Sherbrooke since 2016. A specialist in medical microbiology and infectious diseases, he brings extensive clinical and academic expertise. He is also the Head of the Microbiology Service at the CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS, where he oversees the clinical and organizational leadership of the microbiology laboratory. Dr. Martin completed additional training in laboratory management at the University of Toronto, further strengthening his leadership in diagnostic microbiology and clinical laboratory operations. His work integrates medical practice, teaching, and research, contributing to advances in infectious disease management and laboratory quality systems.
Site Coordinator
Cynthia Grenier, Pharmacologue MSc
Cynthia is working at Centre de Recherche du CHUS since 2010 in the microbiology and infectious diseases research team.
She is working on many epidemiological studies including those on pneumonia, flu and the annual flu vaccine safety surveillance. She is also in charge of COVID-19 vaccine safety surveillance.
CRCHU de Quebec
The Research Center is part of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval and is affiliated to Université Laval.
The Research Center rounds up all research activities at the CHUL, Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, l’Enfant-Jésus, Saint-François d’Assise and Saint-Sacrement hospitals.
INVESTIGATOR
Marilou Kiely, Inf, PhD
Institut national de santé Publique du Québec
Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval
Marilou Kiely is a registered nurse and an epidemiologist at the Quebec National Institute of Public Health. She is also a regular researcher in the Infectious and Immunity Diseases Axis at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center. She works on the field of immunization and vaccine-preventable diseases. Her research focuses on vaccination coverage and vaccine safety for vaccines used in routine immunization programs. She is the lead for the Quebec City CANVAS site.
SITE Coordinator
Lison Fournier, Inf.
Lison Fournier is a registered nurse with a university degree in applied ethics. She has worked in research for over 25 years. She has coordinated and managed numerous projects in various specialties. She has taught good clinical practices (ICH, GCP, SOP, etc.) and was a member of a research ethics committee for about ten years. She has been a research coordinator with the CHU de Québec-Université Laval vaccination research team for several years.