Our Team
CoVaRR-Net brings together some of Canada’s most eminent researchers and experts in a variety of disciplines linked to emerging variants. By connecting this country’s best variants of concern-related research labs, this network ensures a rapid and coordinated response to this complicated facet of the pandemic.
Our team is structured by theme or “Pillars” which study and analyze a different biological aspect of variants. Pillar Leads are responsible for overseeing all Pillar activities and are supported by Deputies, who are experts in varied relevant disciplines, as well as research coordinators and research associates.
We also have a team organizing shared resources and a team providing outreach, policy, and public health communication.
Our Executive Committee is comprised of the Executive Director, the Directors of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity, and Leads/Co-Leads of the ten Pillars.
We all work together
We work collaboratively with the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory (NML), the Canadian COVID-19 Genomics Network (CanCOGeN), provincial and territorial public health labs, and other national and international bodies. Each CoVaRR-Net Pillar will work intimately with research teams from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) to accelerate the pace of discovery.
To bridge the gaps in our Network ecosystem and address immediate research needs regarding variants, CoVaRR-Net will conduct open calls for multidisciplinary research proposals to tackle specific scientific questions.
Network Coordinator
Nidhi Chaudhary
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity
Ninan Abraham
Director, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI), and Indigeneity
Professor, University of British Columbia
Associate Dean, Equity and Diversity, University of British Columbia, Faculty of Science
Michelle Zinck
Manager, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Indigeneity (EDI&I)
Master’s Student, University of Saskatchewan
Department of Indigenous Studies
Community Engaged Land-Based Health Researcher
Pillar 1
Immunology & Vaccine Protection
Investigating how the immune system responds to emerging variants and assessing the effectiveness of vaccines against them.
Jen Gommerman
Immunology & Vaccine Protection Pillar Co-Lead
Professor, University of Toronto
Canada Research Chair in Tissue Specific Immunity
Ciriaco Piccirillo
Immunology & Vaccine Protection Pillar Co-Lead
Professor and Graduate Program Director, McGill University
Senior Scientist, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Hélène Decaluwe
T cell studies
Associate Professor, Université de Montréal
Clinician Scientist, CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center
Scott Halperin
Vaccines
Professor, Dalhousie University
Nominated Principal Investigator, Canadian Immunization Research Network
Manish Sadarangani
Vaccines
Director, Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia
Sauder Family Chair in Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Members
Vivian Liu
McGill University
Heidi Wood
National Microbiology Laboratory
Coordinator
Laurie Seifried
Pillar 2
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Exploring the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 variants and different host species to understand infection and disease, both in the laboratory and the field.
Jason Kindrachuk
Host-Pathogen Interactions Pillar Co-Lead
Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Molecular Pathogenesis of Emerging and Re-Emerging Viruses
Professor, University of Manitoba
Angela L. Rasmussen
Host-Pathogen Interactions Pillar Co-Lead
Research Scientist III, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan
Affiliate, Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security
Arinjay Banerjee
Emerging Zoonotic Viruses and Comparative Immunology
Early Career Investigator & Research Scientist, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO)
Adjunct Professor, University of Saskatchewan
Samira Mubareka
Zoonotic and Respiratory Virus Transmission, One Health Framework
Clinician scientist, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
and Research Institute
Assistant Professor, Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto
Brad Pickering
Zoonosis, virus-host interactions, One Health Framework, emerging diseases, high consequence pathogens
Research Scientist, head of Special Pathogens, National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Adjunct Professor, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba
Selena M. Sagan
RNA Biology, Virology, MicroRNAs, Host-virus Interactions
Canada Research Chair in RNA Biology and Viral Infections
Associate Professor, Departments of Microbiology & Immunology and Biochemistry, McGill University
Coordinator
Peter Mastrangelo
Pillar 3
Virology
Evaluates the virus’ features in cells and animals. These include measuring infectivity, pathological effects, and vaccine and immune resistance in animals.
Louis Flamand
Virology Pillar Lead
Interim Chair, CCABL3
Professor and Chair, Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University
Stephen Barr
Reverse Genetics and In Vivo Characterization of VOC
Associate Professor, Western University
Jennifer Corcoran
In Vitro Characterization of VOC
Assistant Professor, University of Calgary
Darryl Falzarano
VOC Pathogenesis and Vaccine Development
Research Scientist, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan
Silvia Vidal
Pathogenesis of VOC
Professor, McGill University
Canada Research Chair in Pathogenesis of Infection and Inflammation
Coordinator
Annie Gravel
Pillar 4
Functional Genomics & Structure-Function of VOCs
Studying different areas of the viruses & how they interact with cells, investigating viral protein structures and functions & how they interact with human proteins.
Anne-Claude Gingras
Functional Genomics & Structure-Function of VOCs Pillar Lead
Senior Investigator, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System
Professor, Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto
Canada Research Chair in Functional Proteomics
Etienne Caron
Systems Immunology, immunopeptidomics, HLA, T cell epitopes
Assistant Professor, Université de Montréal
Director, Mass Spectrometry Platform, CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center
Jason Moffat
High-throughput Genetic Interaction Network Mapping in Human Cells
Professor, University of Toronto
Canada Research Chair in Functional Genomics of Cancer
James Rini
Structural Investigation of Cell Membrane and Secreted Proteins and Glycoproteins
Professor, Departments of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Toronto
Nozomu Yachie
Cell Engineering, Genome Editing and Computational Biology
Associate Professor, University of British Columbia
Canada Research Chair in Synthetic Biology
Members
Vivian Liu
McGill University
Mikko Taipale
University of Toronto
William (Rod) Hardy
Sinai Health Systems / University of Toronto
Joyce Wilson
University of Saskatchewan
Coordinator
Laurie Seifried
Pillar 5
Viral Genomics & Sequencing
Reads each variant’s genetic code and looks at the relationships between the sequences of the parent virus and the variants.
Ioannis Ragoussis
Viral Genomics & Sequencing Pillar Lead
Member, Wastewater Surveillance Research Group
Professor, McGill University
Head of Genome Sciences, McGill Genome Center
Robert Delatolla
Viral Genomics & Sequencing Pillar Deputy
Member, Wastewater Surveillance Research Group
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa
Associate Director, Ottawa-Carleton Institute for Environmental Engineering
Caroline Quach
Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology
Professor, University of Montreal
Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist, Medical Microbiologist, CHU Sainte-Justine
Terrance P. Snutch
Genomics, Sequencing Technology
Professor, Michael Smith Laboratories
Director of Translational Neuroscience, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia
Jeff Wrana
Genomics, Functional Genomic Technology
Senior Investigator, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (LTRI), Sinai Health Systems, Toronto
Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto
Members
Marc Desforges
CHU Sainte-Justine
Ryan Ziels
University of British Columbia
Coordinator
Ju-Ling Liu
Pillar 6
Computational Analysis, Modelling and Evolutionary Outcomes (CAMEO)
Using computer modelling and calculations to evaluate the genetic evolution of variants and how quickly they propagate in the Canadian population.
Sarah (Sally) Otto
Computational Analysis, Modelling and Evolutionary Outcomes (CAMEO) Pillar Co-Lead
Killam University Professor and Canada Research Chair, University of British Columbia
Jesse Shapiro
Computational Analysis, Modelling and Evolutionary Outcomes (CAMEO) Pillar Co-Lead
Member, Wastewater Surveillance Research Group
Associate Professor, McGill University & Genome Center
Caroline Colijn
Modelling
Professor, Simon Fraser University
Canada 150 Research Chair in Mathematics for Infection, Evolution and Public Health
Members
Paul Gordon
University of Calgary
Julie Hussin
Université de Montréal
Rees Kassen
University of Ottawa
Art Poon
Western University
William Hsiao
Simon Fraser University
Jeffery Joy
University of British Colombia
Carmen Lia Murall
Public Health Agency of Canada
Coordinator
Erin Gill
Indigenous Involvement
Indigenous communities in Canada have disproportionately borne the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. CoVaRR-Net’s Pillar 7, Indigenous Engagement, Development, and Research (CIEDAR), works to build strong partnerships with and be relevant to Indigenous communities from coast-to-coast-to-coast. CIEDAR’s goal is to actively collaborate with Indigenous community collaborators to develop potential solutions to halt the spread of COVID-19 VOCs. We aim to answer questions about how health, socioeconomic, and cultural factors either reduce or increase the spread of VOCs and communicate that information widely so that Canada’s Indigenous communities can make informed decisions. We focus on success stories, as well as support grassroots efforts and policies. We will also work collaboratively with other VOC Indigenous Networks, as they are created, in multiple areas.
Pillar 7
CoVaRR-Net’s Indigenous Engagement,
Development, and Research (CIEDAR)
Building partnerships with Indigenous communities and working collaboratively with the upcoming Indigenous Network for VOC in multiple areas.
Kimberly R. Huyser
CoVaRR-Net’s Indigenous Engagement, Development, and Research (CIEDAR) Pillar Lead
Associate Professor, University of British Columbia
Michelle Johnson-Jennings
International Indigenous Engagement
Adjunct faculty, University of Saskatchewan
Professor, University of Washington
Katherine Anne Collins
Culture, Language, and Identity
Assistant Professor, University of Saskatchewan
Coordinator
Tamara Chavez
Pillar 8
Public Health, Health Systems and Social Policy Impacts
Studying the impacts of the variants on public health, our healthcare system, and on social policy and reporting these findings to decision-makers and government officials.
Nazeem Muhajarine
Public Health, Health Systems and Social Policy Impacts Pillar Co-Lead
Member, Wastewater Surveillance Research Group
Professor, University of Saskatchewan
Cory Neudorf
Public Health, Health Systems and Social Policy Impacts Pillar Co-Lead
Interim Senior Medical Health Officer, Saskatchewan Health Authority
Professor, University of Saskatchewan
Cheryl A. Camillo
Social Policy, Public Administration, Governance
Assistant Professor, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Regina
Doug Manuel
Public Health and Health Systems, Modelling
Director Wastewater Surveillance Research Group
Senior Scientist, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Distinguished University Professor, University of Ottawa
Andrew Morris
Infectious Disease Physician
Medical Director, Sinai Health-University Health Network Antimicrobial Stewardship Program
Members
Sara Allin
University of Toronto
Coordinator
Khatira Mehdiyeva
Pillar 9
Knowledge, Implementation and Training Team (KITT)
Connecting all activities from the other nine Pillars and quickly and efficiently sharing findings in order to best advance discoveries and inform decision and policymakers.
Melissa Brouwers
Knowledge, Implementation and Training Team (KITT) Pillar Co-Lead
Professor and Director, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa
Jeremy Grimshaw
Knowledge, Implementation and Training Team (KITT) Pillar Co-Lead
Professor, University of Ottawa
Canada Research Chair in Health Knowledge Transfer and Uptake
John Lavis
Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact
Professor, McMaster University
Canada Research Chair in Evidence-Informed Health Systems
Justin Presseau
Health Systems
Associate Professor, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa
Scientist, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Members
Paul Bonnar
Dalhousie University
Joyce Dogba
Université de Laval
Lori-Ann Linkins
McMaster University
Menaka Pai
McMaster University
Janet Curran
Dalhousie University
Alfonso Iorio
McMaster University
Julian Little
University of Ottawa
Coordinator
Kawsari Abdullah
Pillar 10
Antiviral Strategies and Antiviral Therapeutics
Identifying and profiling effectiveness of leading antivirals alone or in combination against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and other human viruses with pandemic potential.
François Jean
Antiviral Strategies & Antiviral Therapeutics Pillar Lead
Associate Professor of Virology, University of British Columbia
Founder of UBC’s Facility for Infectious Disease and Epidemic Research (FINDER)
Nathalie Grandvaux
Antiviral Strategies & Antiviral Therapeutics Pillar Deputy
Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal
Associate Scientific Director of Students and Postdoctoral Affairs and Principal Investigator,
Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM)
Co-founder and past-president, Canadian Society for Virology (CSV)
Co-director, Quebec COVID-Pandemic Network (QCPN)
Deanna Santer
Antiviral Strategies & Antiviral Therapeutics Pillar Deputy
Assistant Professor and GlaxoSmithKline Research Chair in Immunology of Infectious Diseases University of Manitoba
Natalie Strynadka
Antiviral Strategies & Antiviral Therapeutics Pillar Deputy
Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of British Columbia
Canada Research Chair in Structure-based Antimicrobial Discovery on the Bacterial Membrane
Members
Rob Kozak
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Joyce Wilson
University of Saskatchewan
Prameet Sheth
Queen’s University
Coordinator
Carl Perez
CoVaRR-Net Biobank
Angela M. Crawley
Biobank Director
Senior Scientist, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Associate Professor, University of Ottawa
Adjunct Professor, Carleton University
Don Vinh
Biobank Clinical Associate Director
Associate Professor, McGill University
Medical Microbiologist, McGill University Health Centre
Curtis Cooper
Biobank Clinical Associate Director
Professor of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Scientist, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Manager
Nikita Rayne
Coordinator
Aliisa Heiskanen
Data Platform
Amy Hsu
Data Platform Director
Chair in Primary Health Care in Dementia, uOttawa Brain and Mind-Bruyère Research Institute
Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa
Guillaume Bourque
Data Platform Associate Director
Professor, McGill University
Canada Research Chair in Computational Genomics and Medicine
Wastewater Surveillance Research Group
Doug Manuel
Director, Wastewater Surveillance Research Group
Public Health and Health Systems, Modelling
Public Health, Health Systems and Social Policy Impacts Pillar Deputy
Senior Scientist, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Distinguished University Professor, University of Ottawa
Clinical Research Chair, Precision Medicine for Chronic Disease Prevention, University of Ottawa
Robert Delatolla
Member, Wastewater Surveillance Research Group
Viral Genomics & Sequencing Pillar Deputy
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa
Associate Director, Ottawa-Carleton Institute for Environmental Engineering
John P. Giesy
Member, Wastewater Surveillance Research Group
Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in the Division of Earth, Ocean and Atmosphere of the National Academy of Science of Canada
Former Canada Research Chair in Environmental Toxicology
Chrystal Landgraff
Member, Wastewater Surveillance Research Group
Research Scientist, Surveillance, Outbreak Detection and Response, Enteric Diseases Division, National Microbiology Laboratory (NML)
Adjunct Professor, Department of Food Sciences, University of Guelph
Nazeem Muhajarine
Member, Wastewater Surveillance Research Group
Public Health, Health Systems and Social Policy Impacts Pillar Co-Lead
Professor, University of Saskatchewan
Ioannis Ragoussis
Member, Wastewater Surveillance Research Group
Viral Genomics & Sequencing Pillar Lead
Professor, McGill University
Head of Genome Sciences, McGill Genome Center
Jesse Shapiro
Member, Wastewater Surveillance Research Group
Computational Analysis, Modelling and Evolutionary Outcomes (CAMEO) Pillar Co-Lead
Associate Professor, McGill University & Genome Center
Amina Stoddart
Member, Wastewater Surveillance Research Group
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University
Peter Vanrolleghem
Member, Wastewater Surveillance Research Group
Professor, Department of Civil and Water Engineering, Université Laval
Canada Research Chair on Water Quality Modelling
Coordinator
Carol Bennett
Bioethics
Raphael Saginur
Bioethics Co-Director
Chair of the Ottawa Health Science Network Research Ethics Board
James Robblee
Bioethics Co-Director
Cardiac anesthesiologist, University of Ottawa Heart Institute
The Canadian Consortium of Academic
Biosafety Level 3 (CCABL3) Laboratories
Provides rapid guidance and recommendations to Canadian authorities when facing new emerging biological threats.
Louis Flamand
Interim Chair, CCABL3
Virology Pillar Lead
Professor and Chair, Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University
Bintou Ahidjo
Member, Canadian Consortium of Academic Biosafety Level 3 Laboratories (CCABL3)
Research Platform Manager, Facility for Infectious Disease and Epidemic Research, University of British Columbia
Honorary Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of British Columbia
Mariana Baz
Member, Canadian Consortium of Academic Biosafety Level 3 Laboratories (CCABL3)
Senior Research Scientist and Head of the Antiviral Drug Sensitivity Division at the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza;
Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the BSL3 laboratory, Université Laval
Marcel Behr
Member, Canadian Consortium of Academic Biosafety Level 3 Laboratories (CCABL3)
Director, Infectious Diseases, McGill University; Director, McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4); Director, CL3 Lab, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Volker Gerdts
Member, Canadian Consortium of Academic Biosafety Level 3 Laboratories (CCABL3)
Director and CEO, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO)
David J. Kelvin
Member, Canadian Consortium of Academic Biosafety Level 3 Laboratories (CCABL3)
Canada Research Chair in Translational Vaccinology and Inflammation
Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University
Sarah Viehbeck
Ex officio member, Canadian Consortium of Academic Biosafety Level 3 Laboratories (CCABL3)
Chief Science Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
Coordinator
Rajesh Jacob