PHAC/CIHR Influenza Research Network

The PHAC/CIHR Influenza Research Network (PCIRN) is a national network of influenza researchers, created in 2009 with funding from a CIHR grant under the Pandemic Preparedness Strategic Research Initiative (PPSRI). In 2012 PCIRN represents 90 investigators from more than 30 institutions across Canada, comprising leading experts in the fields of vaccine safety, vaccine effectiveness, and program evaluation. PCIRN's objectives are to develop, test, and implement methodologies related to the evaluation of influenza vaccines as they pertain to safety, immunogenicity, effectiveness, and program implementation and evaluation. PCIRN is also designed to support Canadian pandemic preparedness on an ongoing basis. For the 3-year renewal, PCIRN will comprise 6 infrastructures: the Clinical Trials Network of 8 sites, conducting rapid clinical trials and planning a 3-year study comparing Fluad and TIV; the Serious Outcomes Surveillance Network of 40 adult sites will strengthen ongoing assessments of vaccine effectiveness in its test-negative case control study, better define influenza burden of disease, and enhance its capacity to respond rapidly to emerging vaccine safety signals; the National Ambulatory Network will expand to provide the most valid data on the safety of the seasonal influenza vaccine in various age groups to Public Health prior to the mass campaign; a Clinical Investigations Network of 10 hospital sites will be established to conduct clinical investigations of reported allergic symptoms following immunization; the Program Delivery and Evaluation Network will connect to public health units and vaccine delivery units to evaluate applied public health strategies related to influenza immunization programs; and the Reference Laboratory Network of 5 sites will maintain the PCIRN biobank and conduct novel influenza assay development. Training the next generation of pandemic researchers will continue to be a high priority for PCIRN.