Health Canada has announced it will be funding five new research projects that should help researchers further understand who the H1N1 swine flu virus infects and why, and how best to prevent and treat it.
One study, led by Dr. Satyendra Sharma from the University of Manitoba, will try to understand why some patients with H1N1 go on to develop serious respiratory illness and others develop only mild symptoms.
The team will closely study how the immune system fights the virus, and will also track the long-term outcome of people who have developed severe respiratory illness.
Another study, led by Dr. Allison McGeer from Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, will study the impact of H1N1 on pregnant women and their babies. Among other aspects, the study will look at why only some pregnant women develop complications, and whether vaccinating pregnant women protects their infants against flu infection.
Dr. John Schrader from the University of British Columbia and his team will look into the rapid development of new drug therapies to treat patients with severe H1N1 infections.
Dr. C锟絚ile Tremblay from the Centre hospitalier de l'Universit锟� de Montr锟絘l and a team will look at various immune responses to the vaccine in hopes of developing immune-based preventative and therapeutic strategies for those at a higher risk of severe illness.
Finally, a fifth study led by Dr. Robert Fowler at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto will study how to best manage health-care resources during a pandemic. His work will focus on determining who is most likely to get sick and how can hospitals can better prepare to help them.
"Canada is a global leader in H1N1 flu virus research, including research with our international partners on a safe and effective H1N1 vaccine," Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said from Winnipeg Wednesday as she announced the studies.
"The scientific research we are funding today will help ensure that our knowledge, approach and planning remain among the best in the world."
The research funds -- $2.4 million over two years - will come through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). There are also other studies underway being done by the Public Health Agency of Canada and the CIHR Influenza Research Network.
