Objectives

Building on the infrastructure and training capacity created within the National Training Program in Allergy and Asthma, we will create an enriched, multidisciplinary training and collaborative research group to enhance the capacity and strengths of biomedical research and research training within Manitoba.

Program Overview

We will include a program of activities based primarily upon (i) Emerging Research workshops, (ii) Visiting Speaker Lecture Series, and (iii) National/International Workshops and Symposia. The program will also offer ad hoc member-driven opportunities for research and academic collaboration through alliance with existing local activities and preparation of published reviews and collected works.

Balancing the desire to build on critical mass, to extend the focus from allergic inflammation to inflammation more broadly, and cognizant of the many competing academic activities, we propose a blended program of regular one hour/month meetings, 6-8 visiting speakers per year, and regular (1-3 times per year) half- to full-day larger scale events.

(i) Emerging Research workshops: highly interactive monthly one hour sessions held in a regular time slot, composed of two 15 minute presentations with 15 minutes discussion by local NTP members.  The focus is on emerging research opportunities/problems/ puzzles/plans rather than completed research activity.  Most months will feature one senior and one junior presenter on unrelated topics.  Speakers for the first two of these have been identified for December 2009 and January 2010. Volunteers will be sought for the rest of the academic year 2010.

(ii) Visiting Speaker lecture series: events initiated by individual members using Training Program administrative and fund-raising infrastructure for lectures and meetings with external investigators of some repute. Visits will be for one to three days during which guests will present their research, meet with trainees and with interested faculty.  This offers a very personal mechanism to become better acquainted with leaders in research relevant to inflammation and allergy. Where possible these events will overlap with the Emerging Research workshops. One event has already been planned – Wed Nov 18 2009: Dr. Richard Leigh from the University of Calgary (sponsored by GlaxoSmithKilne) will present his research on airway inflammation caused by rhinovirus infection and the impact this has on lung wound repair and function.

(iii) National/International Symposia:  half- or full-day events focusing on a specific topic in inflammation and/or allergic disorders.  These will blend discovery, epidemiologic and translational research presented by sponsored international visitors and locally based presenters.  Each will be organized by NTP members who will assume responsibility for the event - administrative and financial support will be available. We will maintain an annual process for Training Program members to submit (deadline in January/February) brief proposals for workshop/symposia for the subsequent academic year.  NTP executive will assess and rank proposals based on fit with program objectives and potential for external financial support.  Two such events have already been established: one championed by Andrew Halayko is planned for Nov 26, 2009 (State of the Art: Pulmonary Medicine Research in Canada” in association with the Canadian Thoracic Society); a second championed by Redwan Moqbel on “Chronic Inflammation” is planned for June 2010.

Governance

The program will initially be co-Directed by Drs. Kent HayGlass and Andrew Halayko.  Ms. Susan Ness, based in the Dept. of Immunology, will provide administrative and planning support for program events, including website management. A 5-person Executive Committee has been established that includes the co-Directors, and Drs. Jude Uzonna (Immunology), Getulio Nogueira (Oral Biology), and Redwan Moqbel (Immunology). As needed, steering committees will be established with Program members for planning and implementation of some program activities.