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From Nov. 29 - Dec. 3, 2021, the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4) hosted Infection and Immunity Week, a McGill Bicentennial Signature Event, featuring international keynote speakers, MI4 researchers and McGill students.

Whether it’s the COVID-19 pandemic, antimicrobial resistance, emerging zoonotic infections and more, Infection and Immunity Week celebrated innovation and solutions to tackle infectious and immune threats to human health.

Our week of activities included:

  • International Speakers
  • Keynote speaker viewing party
  • Workshops
  • Symposiums
  • Student Research Day

Events

Monday, November 29 (Day)

Towards Personalized Infection Medicine: from molecules to patients to communities
MI4 – Helmholtz Symposium
8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.

An exchange of perspectives on personalized medicine, as it pertains to infection diseases, between physicians and scientists from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Germany and McGill University.

  • Keynote Speaker: Prof. Ugur Sahin, CEO of BioNTech
  • Speakers, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research: Prof. Chase Beisel, Prof. Yang Li, Prof. Gérard Krause
  • Speakers, McGill University: Dr. Don Vinh, Dr. Patricia Fontela, Dr. Alexandra de Pokomandy
  • Audience: Scientific
  • Location: Online
  • Event Agenda

Monday, November 29 (Evening)

Humans and Microbes: How Did We Get Here and Where Are We Going?
Keynote Viewing Party and Official Launch of Infection and Immunity Week
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

MI4 welcomed researchers and other  community members for Dr. Arturo Casadevall's keynote lecture and official launch of Infection and Immunity Week. This evening set the tone for the week of events and outlined why Infection and Immunity is so important in our world today, whether it’s the current COVID-19 pandemic, antimicrobial resistance, emerging zoonotic infections and other current topics.

  • Speaker: Dr. Arturo Casadevall (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)
  • Audience: General
  • Location: McGill Faculty Club and online

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Tuesday, November 30

One Health: Defining Specific Actions to Face Emerging Zoonotic Infections
Combined Workshop from the JD MacLean Centre for Tropical Diseases and the McGill Centre for Viral Diseases
1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

This interactive high-level workshop brought together clinicians, basic scientists, funders and policymakers with a mix of plenary and break-out sessions. The session defined the specific actions points concerning parasitic, viral, and bacterial emerging infections seen through the lens of One Health pillars. Our goal was to provide an actionable agenda for researchers, funders and policymakers.

  • Speaker: Dr. Emily Jenkins
  • Audience: Scientific, general
  • Location: Online

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Wednesday, December 1

New Frontiers in Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases
McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits (MRCCT) Symposium
8:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

This symposium presented ongoing innovative research performed by new and senior MRCCT investigators, as well as international collaborators who are leaders in the study of inflammatory diseases. Two international speakers also provided updates on the mechanisms of inflammation in COVID-19. While we explored novel perspectives on the mechanisms underlying the development of inflammatory diseases, we also highlighted ground-breaking research ongoing at McGill University.

  • Speakers: Dr. Gretchen Diehl and Dr. Jean-Laurent Casanova
  • Audience: Scientific
  • Location: Online
  • Event Agenda

 

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Thursday, December 2

Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbiome Symposium
Combined symposium by the McGill Antimicrobial Resistance Research Centre and the McGill Centre for Microbiome Research
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

This dynamic virtual event featured a video on research at McGill, graduate student presentations in the style of “3 minutes thesis”, two keynote lectures and a panel discussion on the future of Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbiome research, considering also a one-health perspective.

  • Speakers: Dr. Eric. Pamer (University of Chicago), Dr. Ilana L. Brito (Cornell University)
  • Panelists: Dr. Emma Allen-Vercoe (University of Guelph, co-founder of NuBiyota), Dr. Ed Topp (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada), Dr. B. Jesse Shapiro (McGill University)
  • Audience: Scientific, general
  • Location: Online
  • Event Agenda

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Friday, December 3

Infection and Immunity Symposium Student Day
Student Research Day
8:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

The Infection and Immunity Symposium Student Day featured three main sessions throughout the day and showcases the innovative student research in infection and immunity at McGill, while also providing opportunities for students to network and discuss future opportunities in research and beyond.

  • Speaker, first session: Dr. Samantha Gruenheid
  • Speakers, second session: Dr. Susanna Harris (Science Communicator), Dr. Ritu Dhand (Vice-President, Editorial, Nature Journals), Sarwat Khan (Scientist, Nexelis)
  • Audience: Students, faculty, McGill alumni
  • Location: Online
  • Agenda
  • Theme-based schedule

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