Events

JUNE 19 – 22, 2024

Facilitated by members of Pillar 6, Computational Analysis, Modelling and Evolutionary Outcomes (CAMEO)

The 31st Dynamics and Evolution of Human Viruses Conference

Partially funded by CoVaRR-Net and organized by Pillar 6 members Jeffery Joy and Art Poon, the 2024 edition of this three-day conference boasted record attendance.

Held for the first time in Canada in Squamish, British Columbia, the event brought together leading experts from around the globe in the fields of genomics, bioinformatics, zoonoses, phylogenetics, and public health, and featured a series of insightful presentations, poster sessions and discussions.

The conference facilitated the exchange of cutting-edge research and developments in viral dynamics and evolution, and fostered collaborations aimed at addressing the challenges posed by evolving viral pathogens. The insights gained will contribute to the development of more effective public health interventions and the advancement of viral genomics and bioinformatics.

For more highlights and key outcomes from the conference, click here.

June 8, 2023

Facilitated by CIEDAR – CoVaRR-Net’s Indigenous Engagement, Development, and Research Pillar 7

Hearing Indigenous Voices During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In conjunction with UBC Health, CIEDAR presented a hybrid symposium on Indigenous health during the pandemic. Indigenous scholars from Canada, US, and New Zealand participated. They discussed lessons learned about conducting research and Indigenous resilience during the pandemic.

MARCH 30, 2023

FACILITATED BY PILLAR 9, KNOWLEDGE, IMPLEMENTATION, AND TRAINING TEAM (KITT)

CoVaRR-Net Webinar

This webinar is part of the CoVaRR-Net’s capacity building and training initiative, which will see various pillar members present their pillar’s projects and plans over the next few months.

The sixth webinar in the series featured:

• A presentation from Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Indigeneity (EDI&I) on Unweaving Systemic Inequities in Academia and Health Care from Dr. Ninan Abraham, EDI&I Director and Michelle Zinck, EDI&I Manager.

FEBRUARY 24, 2023

FACILITATED BY PILLAR 9, KNOWLEDGE, IMPLEMENTATION, AND TRAINING TEAM (KITT)

CoVaRR-Net Webinar

This webinar is part of the CoVaRR-Net’s capacity building and training initiative, which will see various pillar members present their pillar’s projects and plans over the next few months.

The fifth webinar in the series featured:

• A presentation from the BioBank Team on Collaborative Biobanking: Trailblazing for Pandemic Preparedness from Dr. Angela M. Crawley, Biobank Director; Dr. Raphael Saginur, Bioethics Co-Director; Dr. James Robblee, Bioethics Co-Director; and Dr. Amy Hsu, Data Platform Director.

JANUARY 27, 2023

FACILITATED BY PILLAR 9, KNOWLEDGE, IMPLEMENTATION, AND TRAINING TEAM (KITT)

CoVaRR-Net Webinar

This webinar is part of the CoVaRR-Net’s capacity building and training initiative, which will see various pillar members present their pillar’s projects and plans over the next few months.

The fourth webinar in the series featured:

• A presentation from Pillar 7 on Indigenous Voices in Contemporary Spheres: Academic, Social Media, and Health Research from Dr. Kimberly R. Huyser, Pillar 7 Lead; Carly Morrisseau, Communications and Social Media Coordinator; Emma Ronayne, Graduate Research Assistant; Jonathan Lin, Graduate Research Assistant; Jordan Derkson, Graduate Research Assistant; and CEIDAR Team.

NOVEMBER 29, 2022

FACILITATED BY PILLAR 9, KNOWLEDGE, IMPLEMENTATION, AND TRAINING TEAM (KITT)

CoVaRR-Net Webinar

This webinar is part of the CoVaRR-Net’s capacity building and training initiative, which will see various pillar members present their pillar’s projects and plans over the next few months.

The third webinar in the series featured:

• Overview of Pillar 5 Activities, and Detection and Analysis of Naturally Arising SARS-CoV-2 Defective Interfering Particles from Dr. Ioannis Ragoussis, Pillar 5 Lead
• The Emergence and Dynamics of COVID-19 Variants in the GTA from Dr. Jeff Wrana, Pillar 5 Deputy

OCTOBER 22, 2022

Facilitated by Pillar 3, VIROLOGY

CoVaRR-Net Webinar

This webinar is part of the CoVaRR-Net’s capacity building and training initiative, which will see various pillar members present their pillar’s projects and plans over the next few months.

The second webinar in the series featured:

• Natural Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Mice from Dr. Louis Flamand, Pillar 3 Lead
• The Quest for a Universal SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine from Dr. Denis Leclerc, Pillar 3 Deputy

SEPTEMBER 29, 2022

Facilitated by Pillar 9, Knowledge Implementation, and Training Team (KITT)

CoVaRR-Net Webinar

This webinar launched the CoVaRR-Net Webinar Series, which will see various Pillar members present their Pillars, projects, and plans over the next few months.

This first in the series featured:

• A CoVaRR-Net Vision Update from Dr. Marc-André Langlois, CoVaRR-Net Executive Director
• The Use of Evidence in a Public Health Crisis from Dr. Melissa Brouwers, Pillar 9 Co-Lead

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021

A webinar with CoVaRR-Net Researchers

Vaccines 101: The Role of Vaccines in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Four CoVaRR-Net Pillar Leads share their work and take questions from the public on prevention and protection from COVID-19 in an era of rising cases of variants of concern (VOCs).

Speakers:

• Jenn Gommerman (Pillar 1: Immunology & Vaccine Protection)
• Anne-Claude Gingras (Pillar 3: Functional Genomics & Structure-Function of VOCs)
• Nazeem Muhajarine (Pillar 6: Public Health, Health Systems and Social Policy Impacts)
• Kimberly R. Huyser (Pillar 7: CoVaRR-Net’s Indigenous Engagement, Development, and Research (CIEDAR))

The webinar is presented by CoVaRR-Net, supported by UTown@UBC Community Grants.