Global research partnerships to address mpox virus in African countries and Canada
News release
December 20, 2022 – Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Institutes of Health Research
As the world has seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, zoonotic diseases, if they are not effectively controlled, can spread beyond their endemic areas and cause outbreaks around the world. Earlier in 2022, this is exactly what we saw with mpox, a zoonotic disease endemic to several parts of Central and West Africa that spread quickly across the entire globe, including nine provinces and territories in Canada.
As part of Canada’s response to the mpox outbreak, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, today announced an investment of $16.5 million for research that will address the current global outbreak of mpox, strengthen the ability to prevent future outbreaks, and improve the care of patients.
This investment includes $5.5 million for two research projects involving researchers from Canada, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Funding for these projects is provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
The two teams will study mpox transmission and evaluate vaccines and treatments used against the current outbreak and disseminate this knowledge to public health officials, policymakers, and high-risk communities:
- Dr. Darrell Tan of St. Michael’s Hospital and Dr. Rosemary Audu of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research will collaborate on the creation of the Canadian-African Mpox Partnership (CAMP)—a consortium in Canada and Nigeria that will engage high-risk communities to better understand mpox transmission and evaluate the efficacy of antivirals and vaccination in real-world applications.
- Dr. Jason Kindrachuk of the University of Manitoba and Dr. Placide Mbala of the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (Democratic Republic of the Congo) will leverage the International Mpox Response Consortium (IMREC) to rapidly investigate knowledge gaps, test vaccine efficacy in study sites across nine African countries and five Canadian provinces, contribute to global mpox surveillance, and disseminate findings quickly to public health officials and policymakers around the world.
The additional $11 million is being made available in a new funding opportunity launched by CIHR through the Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies and the CIHR HIV/AIDS and STBBI Research Initiative. The research being funded will improve our understanding of the mpox virus and create greater research capacity and health system readiness for current and future zoonotic diseases.
Quotes
“Everyone in Canada and around the world has now experienced the impact of a global pandemic. I am pleased to see the partnership between CIHR and IDRC to tackle mpox at home and in its endemic regions of Africa. Together with scientists in West and Central Africa, we can develop ways to monitor mpox, protect high-risk communities against it, and prevent future global outbreaks.”
The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
We are pleased that IDRC will collaborate with CIHR to fund research here in Canada and in regions of Africa where the virus is endemic. Efforts that bring scientists from Canada and West and Central Africa together will allow us to make new contributions to pandemic preparedness and response.”
The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan
Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
“Identifying emerging health threats and quickly taking action to provide research funding to help mitigate emergencies is an important part of Canada’s response to any health challenge. I’m always proud of our work and collaborations with IDRC.”
Dr. Michael J. Strong
President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
“We are pleased to work with CIHR on projects that underscore our mutual focus on health. Our shared goal of funding research on disease transmission, surveillance, and treatment, in this case regarding mpox in both Africa and Canada, will help us prepare for future health challenges.”
Dr. Jean Lebel
President, Canada’s International Development Research Centre
Quick facts
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In 2022, mpox spread to many non-endemic areas around the globe, including Canada. This precipitated a global response and demonstrated the need for further study of this virus. The first human case of mpox was identified in Africa in 1970.
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The total number of confirmed cases of mpox in Canada was 1,456 as of November 25, 2022, with the most cases in Ontario and Quebec. Over 70,000 cases have been confirmed globally.
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The World Health Organization considers this year’s mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
Associated links
Contacts
Guillaume Bertrand
Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
613-957-0200
Haley Hodgson
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan
Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
haley.hodgson@international.gc.ca
Media Relations
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Media Relations
International Development Research Centre
smorris@idrc.ca
At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) we know that research has the power to change lives. As Canada's health research investment agency, we collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.
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