Grant: Foundation Grant

Infections caused by respiratory viruses and herpes viruses are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality among Canadians. For instance, influenza viruses affect 1 of 6 Canadians each winter and cause approximately 30 000 hospitalizations and 3 000 deaths annually. In addition, the incidence of genital herpes has increased by 30% over the past 20 years. In the next 7 years, Dr Guy Boivin proposes an ambitious research program to better understand these viral diseases using relevant laboratory and animal models and to develop/evaluate novel therapeutic and preventive approaches. To this end, his group has defined 3 research themes and assembled a multi-disciplinary team of collaborators including enzymologist, immunologist, pathologist, physicist and specialist in genomics/proteomics. The first theme of this program consists in studying the virulence and transmissibility of respiratory and herpes viruses. The second theme involves the characterization of antiviral drug resistance mechanisms as well as the development of innovative antiviral and immune-based therapeutic strategies. The third theme consists in developing/improving a series of vaccines based on new routes of immunization (mucosal, intradermal), powerful adjuvants and recombinant attenuated viral strains. The research program of Dr Boivin will be significant at many levels for the Canadian population. First, his work on drug-resistant viruses and development of new antivirals and immunomodulatory compounds will result in improved health care towards patients with respiratory and herpes virus infections. Also, his research on new vaccines and viral transmission could have a major impact on public health policies and pandemic preparedness.