This panel event is created by Danica, a grade 11 student from Alberta who is a part of the SCWIST Quantum Leaps Mentoring program. Danica is interested in careers related to immunology, virology and infectious diseases. As part of her science project in the Quantum Leaps program, Danica is doing research on Avian flu, and will be speaking about her research at this event.

In this session, first the audience will learn about H5N1, the latest flu outbreak, followed by an interactive Q&A with Canadian professors who study various viruses that impact human health with a focus on vaccines and antiviral drugs. This program is organized and hosted by a Quantum Leaps student and her mentor Dr. Deanna Santer, as well as the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology.

H5N1 or Avian flu is a serious health and financial concern, especially in regions where poultry farming is a significant part of the economy. It is an infectious disease that not only affects birds but has also been transmitted to various other animals such as bears, cats, foxes, marine animals, cattle, goat, otters, skunk, and raccoon. It has been found in Africa, South America, North America, Asia, Antarctica, and Europe. Humans can become infected when the virus transmits through the mouth, nose, or eyes. This can happen when someone touches infected feathers or dust and then touches their own mouth.

Learn more about the history of the virus, inter-species transmission, virus strains, policies around vaccinations in different countries and other strategies implemented to combat the spread of the virus. In this event, the audience will also learn about research on various other viruses that impact human health with a focus on vaccines and antiviral drugs. What are the steps taken when avian flu is detected by a farmer? How do they identify antibodies from vaccines and not confuse them with the infection itself? Get answers to these questions and more, at this event!

AGENDA

• 5:00 -5:05 Welcome and overview
• 5:05-5:15 Danica’s presentation of her research on H5N1
• 5:15-5:30 Guest panelists introduce themselves and their current research labs
• 5:30-5:45 Q&A hosted by Student. Focus on questions about research and career journeys of each panelist
• 5:45-6:00 Open floor to any audience questions for Danica or any of the panelists

SPEAKERS

Dr. Deanna Santer

Deanna Santer, PhD, is an Assistant Professor and GlaxoSmithKline Research Chair in Immunology of Infectious Diseases at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Santer received her PhD in Immunology from the University of Washington. Next, she completed post-doctoral training at the University of Alberta with Nobel Laureate Dr. Michael Houghton and Dr. Lorne Tyrrell studying antiviral immunity. Dr. Santer established her research group at the University of Manitoba in November 2020 where they aim to understand how immune responses are regulated by immune proteins called interferons during viral infections (eg. SARS-CoV-2, influenza) or during periods of chronic inflammation such as in the inflammatory bowel disease ulcerative colitis. Outside of the lab, Dr. Santer is passionate about promoting women in science through mentorship opportunities with Women In Science: Development, Outreach and Mentorship (WISDOM) and Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST).

Dr. Alyson Kelvin

Alyson A Kelvin, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary and a virologist and vaccinologist working on emerging respiratory viruses. She completed her HBSc at Western University and her PhD at Queen’s University (Northern Ireland). Dr. Kelvin’s expertise is in the fields of virology and vaccinology specifically focusing on the development of broadly protective vaccines for emerging viruses. She has researched several high-profile emerging viruses including the 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza virus, avian H5N1 influenza virus, Mpox virus, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. She is a member of expert panels for the control of emerging viruses including the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) Avian Influenza Expert Panel.

Dr. Barbara Porto

Barbara Porto, PhD, pursued her Masters and PhD in Brazil, her home country, being trained as an immunologist. During her post-doctoral studies, she started investigating a respiratory virus that affects mostly babies and the elderly, called respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and decided to make that her research area. Dr. Porto worked as a professor in Brazil for 5 years and then moved to Toronto to work as a post-doctoral fellow at the Hospital for Sick Children. After that, she was recruited to the University of Manitoba as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in 2021, where she keeps working with RSV and studying novel antiviral therapies against this virus.