SAVI is a BC-led international research initiative, launched with $2.6 million from the BC
provincial government, to fast-track the development of a human vaccine for severe acute
respiratory syndrome (SARS). Our goal is two-fold:
00develop an effective SARS vaccine as quickly as possible
00develop a new model for scientific collaboration to more effectively address emerging
public health needs
Developing a new vaccine usually takes years. By adopting an emergency-management model,
which involves following a highly focused and coordinated program and conducting activities
concurrently rather than consecutively, we hope to have a SARS vaccine ready for testing within
months.
The Need00/b>
Estimates of the cost-to-date of SARS to the global economy range from $30 billion to a
staggering $100 billion. Although SARS appears to be currently under control, it is
possible the disease could come back. SARS could turn out to be like influenza and occur
in seasonal cycles. If so, having a vaccine could save many lives and reduce global
economic losses. Even if a vaccine is not possible, our researchers will have learned
much that will be valuable for dealing with future urgent public health issues.
Project Management00/b>
Administrative and leadership support for SAVI is provided by the BC Centre for
Disease Control (an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority - PHSA), the
Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, and the University of British Columbia.
SAVI Scientific Director Dr. Brett Finlay, a professor in the departments of Biochemistry
& Molecular Biology and Microbiology & Immunology at UBC, is an internationally-
recognized scientist working at the forefront of the emerging field of cellular
microbiology.
SAVI Associate Director Dr. Robert Brunham is Medical Director at the BC Centre for
Disease Control and a professor in the UBC Department of Medicine with expertise in
infectious diseases and immunology.
Drs. Finlay and Brunham are assisted by a management team with wide-ranging
expertise, representing a number of universities and organizations (see overleaf). The
team meets bi-weekly to discuss progress towards goals, resolve emerging issues, decide
upcoming steps, and keep the project on track. It also ensures that SAVI activities are coordinated
with other SARS initiatives locally and around the world.
SAVI Activities00/b>
SAVI is comprised of working groups, each with a leader who serves on SAVI's
management team. The working groups span the entirety of vaccine development
activities. Our immunology group will determine which immune responses might
protect against SARS. Our virology group is developing methods to grow the SARS
virus. Our international liaison group is coordinating our activities with similar efforts
around the world. Our epidemiology/public health liaison group tracks the SARS
epidemic and is developing a vaccine evaluation strategy. Our industry liaison group is
researching availability of production facilities. Our regulatory liaison group works
with Health Canada to ensure we are on track with established regulations and protocols.
The work of these and other groups is tightly coordinated enabling the timely completion of four
main objectives:
1. Production of all elements required to formulate a vaccine
2. Early understanding of the mechanisms of immune protection against SARS
3. Development of a suitable animal model and safe testing protocols
4. Readiness for human studies and, ultimately, vaccine distribution
Funding and Partners00/b>
SAVI was launched in April 2003 with $2.6 million from the BC provincial government.
Since the total cost to develop a vaccine can be upwards of $100 million, SAVI also
seeks and has received other funding and generous "in-kind" contributions of time,
services, facilities and products from partner organizations and top scientists in Canada
and around the world. Because of the collaborative and cooperative nature of Canadian
SARS research, we also benefit from the work of separately funded SARS research
projects, and similarly share our findings with others.
The SAVI Team00/b>
00Dr. Samuel Abraham: Technology Director,
BC Cancer Agency
00Dr. Caroline Astell: Projects Leader, BC
Cancer Agency's Genome Sciences Centre
00Dr. Lorne Babiuk: Director, Vaccine &
Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO),
University of Saskatchewan
00Dr. Robert Brunham: Medical Director, BC
Centre for Disease Control
00Dr. Brett Finlay: Professor, Departments of
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and
Microbiology & Immunology, UBC
00Dr. David Patrick: Director of Communicable
Diseases Epidemiology Services, UBC Centre
for Disease Control
00Dr. Martin Petric: Clinical Virologist, BC
Centre for Disease Control
00Dr. Michael Rekart: Director, STD/AIDS
Control, BC Centre for Disease Control
00Ms. Kris Roberts: SAVI Project Coordinator
00Dr. Rachel Roper: SAVI Program Director -
Biologicals
00Dr. Raymond See: SAVI Program Director -
Vaccines
00Dr. Danuta Skowronski: Physician
Epidemiologist, BC Centre for Disease Control
00Dr. David Scheifele: Director, Vaccine
Evaluation Centre, B.C.'s Children's Hospital
00Dr. Aubrey Tingle: President & CEO, Michael
Smith Foundation for Health Research
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