Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN)

The CIRN Clinical Trials Network (CTN), led out of the Canadian Center for Vaccinology (CCfV), is Canada’s only national network for infectious disease related vaccine clinical trials. CTN was purposefully designed at the time of the H1N1 pandemic to conduct rapid vaccine trials to address critical public health questions with a focus on safety, immunogenicity, and mechanisms of immunity. CTN’s 49 participating co-investigators are national leaders in the field of infectious diseases and immunization, and are based at sites in Vancouver, Penticton, Kamloops, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Saint John, and Halifax. The Network includes dedicated support from ~40 key staff for research coordination and nursing, project and financial management, data management and biostatistics, and laboratory sciences. Since 2008, the network has successfully conducted more than 20 national trials in Canada and one large multi-site international trial with partners in Africa. CTN provides a critical capacity for specialized early Phase studies for new vaccines (Ebola, Coronavirus) through to Phase 3 efficacy studies in large populations (Influenza, CMV, Hepatitis B). CTN provides a unique forum for collaboration and has obtained significant funding support from government and NGO partners (PHAC, CIHR, IDRC, CEPI) as well as global industry players including Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, Medicago, VBI Vaccines, VIDO and Sequiris.

The Accelerating Clinical Trials Consortium is generously supported through multi-year funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Clinical Trials Fund, as part of Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy to ensure that Canadians are well served by a national clinical trials network.