Comprised of the Vaccine Discovery, Vaccine Evaluation, and the Policy, Programs, and Implementation research groups, the Center serves as a critical academic pipeline for Canadian vaccine priorities – from developing promising new vaccine candidates to applied public health research that supports timely decision-making.
CCfV’s main research facilities are located at IWK Health in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
The Canadian Center for Vaccinology (CCfV) drives vaccine innovation by integrating biomedical, clinical, and social science research. We generate evidence to enhance vaccine safety, efficacy, and policy while training future leaders to combat infectious diseases and emerging health threats.
CCfV envisions a world where vaccines are innovative, accessible, and widely embraced to prevent infectious diseases and improve global health. Through multidisciplinary research, collaboration, and scientific advancement, we drive progress in vaccine development, policy, and implementation to meet evolving public health challenges.
We view excellence not as something to strive for but as a standard by which we work. This applies to our rigorous scientific standards, our alignment with national and international research best practices, our approach to work, and how we engage with our communities.
We believe excellence cannot be achieved without consideration for and prioritization of equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and reconciliation principles.
We value the dignity, diversity, and perspectives of all individuals. We foster a culture prioritizing respect, fairness, and empathy in every interaction and decision.
We believe collaboration is key to our success. By bringing different ideas and people together, new knowledge and perspectives are created. Our combined strengths will enable us to have a significant impact on global health outcomes.
CCfV is committed to fostering an environment that prioritizes Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) across all areas of our research and operations.
We embrace varied experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives with the knowledge that these differences create a thriving workforce.
We take deliberate actions to attract and welcome individuals from racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, and religious backgrounds across our staff, research teams, and study participants.
We are committed to proactively identifying and addressing systemic barriers that may limit opportunities for certain groups and individuals. Our goal is to ensure everyone has equal access to resources, opportunities, and support, from our staff to global vaccine access.
We promote open communication, collaboration, and mutual respect among team members, fostering a culture where differences are acknowledged as strengths.
We acknowledge that CCfV facilities are on the unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq and recognize the longstanding systemic barriers to full societal participation. We are committed to reconciliation and centering Indigenous needs through respectful, mutually beneficial, and collaborative relationships.
The Clinical Trials Research Center (CTRC) is founded in Halifax, NS to characterize the epidemiology of and assess interventions for the prevention, control, and treatment of infectious diseases.
Investigators and members of CTRC, along with the Center’s partners, recognized the value of the integrated team and the potential for even more impact if the Center could grow to encompass other research areas.
The Canadian Center for Vaccinology was founded with financial assistance from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Nova Scotia, Canada Research and Innovation Trust, the Government of Nova Scotia, Canada’s Department of Economic Development, and other funders. The CTRC was incorporated into the new centre.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)/Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) Influenza Research Network (PCIRN) was launched to carry out a three-year plan to develop and test procedures for evaluating a theoretical pandemic vaccine using seasonal influenza vaccine as a model; this network was led out of CCfV.
Following the unanticipated declaration of the influenza H1N1 pandemic concurrent with the start of funding, PCIRN investigators pivoted to evaluate the H1N1/09 vaccine.
With additional funding from Sanofi Pasteur, CCfV opened the doors to the Vaccine Challenge Unit (now the Challenge Unit) – the first of only two such facilities in Canada. This addition further expanded the Center’s facilities, and, along with it, CCfV’s capabilities.
CCfV plays a critical role in the COVID-19 pandemic, undertaking fifteen COVID-19 projects including both national and international studies on pandemic policies and programs in equity-deserving populations, five COVID-19 adult and one pediatric vaccine clinical trials; two international COVID vaccine clinical trials, and six national vaccine safety and surveillance studies in various populations.
CCfV investigators were instrumental in managing the pandemic via roles on various government advisory boards.
After over ten years of groundwork, the Challenge Unit welcomes its first participants in a human challenge trial, making CCfV the first in Canada to conduct an inpatient challenge study on whooping cough.
CCfV receives funding from CBRF-BRIF to take part in the Canadian Pandemic Preparedness Hub’s (CP2H) and lead the Canadian Biomanufacturing Cooperative sub-network.
As a Dalhousie research centre, CCfV adheres to the university’s Research Centres and Institutes Policy, which, keeping with good governance, establishes the appropriate mechanisms to give assurance of relevance and continued viability and value in a changing environment and to acknowledge the high demands for accountability and transparency.
A Governing Council, a Management Committee, and staff directors oversee CCfV operations.
The Governing Council for the Canadian Center for Vaccinology (CCfV) will oversee the strategic direction of the Center and its operations as it pertains to following good practices as a Dalhousie Centre. Specifically, the Governing Council is responsible for:
The role of the Governing Council Chair rotates among the Deans. Voting members of the Governing Council may have a designated participant in meetings on an ad hoc basis if they are unable to be present.
The Management Committee oversees the operations of CCfV, including adherence by researchers to the required research, ethical, clinical, and financial standards; recruitment; fostering of research excellence, collaboration and integration, and translation. The CCfV Director chairs this committee.
Staff Directors manage CCfV staff and make the day-to-day operational decisions that keep CCfV running effectively and efficiently. They report to the Director of CCfV.
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