• David Safronetz portrait.
  • Adjunct professor

    Max Rady College of Medicine
    Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
    Max Rady College of Medicine
    745 Bannatyne Avenue
    University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus)
    Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9 Canada

    Phone: 204-784-5998
    david.safronetz@phac-aspc.gc.ca

Cross appointments

Does not hold any cross appointments.

Research achievements

Research summary

My research program is primarily focused on neglected highly pathogenic zoonotic viruses including hantaviruses, lassa virus, lujo virus and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus.

Our research concentrates on characterizing existing in vitro and in vivo disease models and/or developing novel models and utilizing them to better understand viral pathogenesis for the purpose of evaluating medical countermeasures.

Research themes

  • Disease modelling
  • Ecology
  • Medical countermeasures
  • Pathogenesis

Research interests

  • Emerging high consequence viral pathogens

Keywords

  • Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus
  • Hantaviruses
  • Lassa virus
  • Lujo virus

Research affiliations

Research scientist, Public Health Agency of Canada

Research groups

Special pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory Branch 

Biography

Dr. Safronetz is a principal investigator at the National Microbiology Laboratory, Public health Agency of Canada and an Adjunct professor at the University of Manitoba.

In his current role as chief of special pathogens, Dr. Safronetz oversees a diverse research program focused on emerging and high consequence viral pathogens.

His research highlights include the development and characterization of several disease models including a non-human primate model for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome as well as the pre-clinical development of a promising Lassa fever vaccine candidate.

Prior to joining the Public Health Agency and the University of Manitoba, Dave studied at NIAIDs Rocky Mountain Laboratories.

He has published extensively in the field of emerging viral hemorrhagic fever diseases, ecology and pathogen discovery, disease modelling and medical countermeasures.

Education

PhD, medical microbiology & infectious diseases, University of Manitoba (2008)

MSc, medical microbiology & infectious diseases, University of Manitoba (2003)

BSc (hons), medical microbiology & immunology, University of Saskatchewan (2000)

Awards

National Institutes of Health Visiting Fellowship (2008-2012)

NIH Fellows Association research Excellence Award (2011, 2012)

NIH Performance Award (2013)

NIAID Merit Award (2014)

NIH Director’s Award (2015)

Contact us

Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Max Rady College of Medicine
Room 543 - 745 Bannatyne Avenue
University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9 Canada

204-789-3299
204-789-3926