Media Advisory - Reducing the global impact of infectious diseases through vaccination: Laureate of Killam Prize in Health Sciences and Gairdner Wightman Award in Ottawa

OTTAWA, Oct. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - An internationally recognized leader in vaccine research, Canadian Lorne Babiuk will be at Canada's International Development Research Centre October 8^th to discuss how recent improvements in the efficacy of animal vaccines can improve food security and the global impact of infectious diseases world-wide.

When: Tuesday, October 8, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Where: IDRC, 150 Kent Street (Corner of Albert), 8th floor

Infectious diseases are the single largest cause of financial losses in the agricultural livestock sector worldwide and remain the leading cause of death in humans. High levels of ill health and mortality in livestock due to infectious diseases disrupt international trade and contribute to food insecurity. Increasing the health of animals will lead to improved economic welfare through improved food security, particularly in the developing world. One important way of improving the health of livestock is through vaccination.

Lorne Babiuk, vice-president of research at the University of Alberta and a member of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences, is an internationally recognized leader in Canadian vaccine research. He has devoted his career to safeguarding the health of people and animals at home and abroad.  Dr Babiuk received a Killam Prize in Health Sciences in 2013 for his outstanding career achievements in the field of vaccinology. His "extraordinary national and international leadership in vaccine development and research in human and veterinary infectious disease control" earned him the Gairdner Wightman Award in 2012.

Dr Babiuk's research is funded through the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF), among others. CIFSRF is a CA$124.5 million program of Canada's International Development Research Centre, undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada. CIFSRF supports applied research partnerships between Canadian and developing-country organizations to find lasting solutions to hunger and food insecurity. It is a core element of Canada's Food Security Strategy.

The event is open to the media and the lecture will be webcast live at http://idrc.canwebcast.net/live.  Journalists and the public can also join in the conversation through Twitter #Babiuk and Facebook.

For more information visit www.idrc.ca

Putting research to work
Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) funds practical research in developing countries to increase prosperity and security, and to foster democracy and the rule of law, in support of Canada's international development efforts. We promote growth and development and encourage sharing knowledge with policymakers, other researchers, and communities around the world. The result is innovative, lasting solutions that aim to bring change to those who need it most.

SOURCE: International Development Research Centre

Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé | ([phone] |[email protected] |@IDRC_CRDI