I am Director of the Vaccine Evaluation Center, a leading centre for applied vaccine research in Canada. Six researchers contribute to the VEC’s core research program, including S. Dobson, T. Kollmann, L. Sauvé, J. Dutz, J. Bettinger, and several more collaborate from other local institutions (BCCDC, VCHA). The researchers share a field team (coordinators, nurses, assistants), data management group (manager, statistician, assistants) and specialized laboratory. The main research themes involve disease burden studies, vaccine clinical trials, and studies to fine tune public immunization programs, including ongoing assessment of vaccine safety. The Vaccine Center researchers collaborate with vaccine specialists across the country and with provincial and federal health officials, with the goal of efficiently translating new vaccine products into optimal vaccination programs for children and adults.

I am the data centre supervisor for the Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT), an active surveillance program involving 12 pediatric centers across Canada. This project is funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada and operated by the Canadian Pediatric Society and its specialist members in infectious diseases. Nurse monitors at each hospital actively search for admissions with adverse events following immunization, to assess causes and outcomes. This is a key means of assessing vaccine safety, particularly the occurrence of uncommon, severe reactions. Monitors also report on selected vaccine preventable diseases, as a measure of vaccine program effectiveness. Surveillance presently includes varicella, pertussis, invasive pneumococcal, meningococcal rotavirus and influenza admissions.

I am co-leader of the PHAC/CIHR Influenza Research Network (PCIRN), responsible for the Clinical Trials activities. PCIRN was established in April 2009 to prepare for necessary investigations during an influenza pandemic and was quickly re-tasked in May 2009 to focus on the H1N1 pandemic. The PCIRN network carried out 4 trials of pH1N1 vaccine in late 2009 involving over 700 subjects at 13 centers across Canada. Related studies continued in 2010 and 2011, the legacy from which will be an advanced state of preparedness for studies in a public health emergency.

Scheifele D W, Marty K, LaJeunesse C, Fan SY, Bjornson G, Langley JM, Dobson S, Li Y, Law B, Halperin SA. Evaluation of Adjuvanted Pandemic H1N1 2009 Influenza Vaccine after one and two doses in young children. PIDJ 2011;30:402-7. PMID: 21178654

Rubinstein E, Predy G, Sauvé, Hammond G W, Aoki F, Sikora C, Li Y, Law B, Halperin SA, Scheifele D. The responses of Aboriginal Canadians to adjuvanted pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza vaccine. CMAJ 2011;183(13):E1033-E1037. PMID: 21788422

Bettinger J A, Sceifele D W, Kellner J D, et al. The effect of routine vaccination on invasive pneumococcal infections in Canadian children, Immunization Monitoring Program, Active 2000-2007. Vaccine 2010;28:2130-2136. PMID: 20044050

Bettinger J A, Sauvé LJ, Sceifele D W, Moore D, Vaudry W, Tran D, Halperin S A, Pelletier L. Pandemic influenza in Canadian children: A summary of hospitalized pediatric cases. Vaccine 2010;28:3180-3184. PMID: 20189488

Scheifele D W, De Serres G, Gilca V, Duval B, Milner R, Ho M, Ochnio J J. A nationwide survey of past hepatitis A infections among Canadian adults. Vaccine 2010;28:6174-78. PMID: 20558251

Scheifele D W, Ochnio J J, Halperin S A. Cellular Immunity as a Potential Cause of Local Reactions to Booster Vaccination with Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Antigens. PIDJ 2009;28:985-9. PMID: 19755930

Bettinger JA, Scheifele DW, Le Saux N, Halperin SA, Vaudry W, Tsang R; Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT).: The impact of childhood meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccine programs in Canada. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2009 Mar;28(3):220-4. PMID: 19209096

Scheifele D W. IMPACT after 17 years: Lessons learned about successful networking. Paediatr Child Health 2009; 14:33-5. PMID: 19436462

Scheifele DW, Bettinger JA, Halperin SA, Law B, Bortolussi R.: Ongoing control of Haemophilus influenzae type B infections in Canadian children, 2004-2007. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2008 Aug;27(8):755-7. PMID: 18594482

Wootton SH, Law B, Tan B, Mozel M, Scheifele DW, Halperin S for IMPACT Investigators.: The epidemiology of children hospitalized with herpes zoster in Canada - Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT), 1991-2005. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2008 Feb; 27(2):112-118. PMID: 18174867

Scheifele D W, Halperin S A, Ward B, Duval B. The challenges facing Canadian trialists in an increasingly competitive global market: what can be done to remain competitive? Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol 2007; 18:205-8. PMID: 18923723

Bettinger J A, Scheifele D W, Halperin S A, Kellner J D, Tyrell G and Members of the Canadian Paediatric Society's Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT). Invasive pneumococcal infections in Canadian children, 1998-2003. Can J Pub Hlth 2007; 98:111-115. PMID: 17441533

Bjornson G, Scheifele D W, Bettinger J, Patrick D M, Gustafson L, Daly P and Tyrell G J. Effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Greater Vancouver, Canada: 2004-2005. Ped Infect Dis J 2007; 26(6):540-542. PMID: 17529875

Scheifele D W, Halperin S A, Ochnio J J, Ferguson A C, Skowronski D M. A modified vaccine reduces the rate of large injection site reactions to the preschool booster dose of diphtheria-tetanus acellular pertussis vaccine - results of a randomized, controlled trial. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2005: 24(12)3:28-51 PM 1059-1066. PMID: 16371866

Scheifele D W, Duval B, Russell M L, Warrington R, De Serres G, Skowronski d M, Dionne M, Kellner J, Davies D, MacDonald J. Ocular and respiratory symptoms attributable to inactivated split influenza vaccine: evidence from a controlled trial involving adults. Clin Infect Dis 2003 Apr 1; 36(7):850-7. Epub 2003 Mar 18. PMID: 12652385

Order of Canada - 2012

Royal College Lecturer, Canadian Paediatric Society Annual Conference - 2011

Distinguished Lecture in Canadian Immunization, Canadian Immunization Conference - 2010

CIHR/Wyeth Chair in Clinical Vaccine Research – 2004-2009

Alan Ross Award, Canadian Paediatric Society – 2007

Sauder Chair in Pediatric Infectious Diseases – 1997-2004