James Strong MD/PhD, FRCPC - Pediatrics

Research summary

Dr. James Strong's research focuses on the pathophysiology of filoviruses in cell cultures and animal systems, expanding diagnostic testing for high-consequence infections, and investigating their ecology. The goal is to understand transmission mechanisms and develop interventions and medical countermeasures to mitigate outbreaks.

Research interests

• Diagnostics
• High consequence viral infections
• Medical countermeasures to high consequence viral infections
• Outbreak management

Research affiliations

Research groups:

• Canadian Critical Care Trials Group (CCCTG)
• Global Outbreak and Response Network (GOARN) R&D on Outbreak Management
• WHO - Ebola/Marburg R&D Roadmap Consultation

Brief bio

Dr. James Strong is a medical officer in the Special Pathogens department at the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and a clinician-scientist in the departments of medical microbiology, infectious disease, and pediatrics and child health.

As the head of the diagnostics and therapeutics section, he oversees diagnostic and reference services for high-containment viral pathogens in Canada. This includes diagnostics for hantaviruses, poxviruses, arenaviruses, filoviruses, bunyaviruses, and flaviviruses.

Dr. Strong has served as a member of the Global Outbreak, Alert and Response Network (GOARN) and as a consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO). He has also partnered with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on managing Ebola and Marburg virus outbreaks in equatorial Africa.

In non-outbreak times, his lab focuses on basic and applied research on high-consequence pathogens using animal and tissue culture models. This research includes studying the pathophysiology of filoviruses in various systems (e.g., mouse, hamster, guinea pig, and nonhuman primates), expanding diagnostic testing, and investigating viral ecology. The aim is to understand transmission mechanisms and disease progression to develop interventions for these infections.

As part of this research, Dr. Strong's team has set up and tested an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) within their Containment Level 4 (CL4) suite to provide supportive care for animal models of high-containment pathogens, such as the Ebola virus.

They have a reciprocal training partnership between Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre and the National Microbiology Laboratory. Physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and pharmacists provide ICU treatment expertise to the lab staff, while the lab staff offer bedside care, specimen handling, diagnostic, and decontamination expertise to healthcare workers. This program enhances understanding of high-containment operations and healthcare delivery in an ICU, contributing to the development of centers of excellence for high-consequence pathogens in Canadian hospitals.

Cross-appointments

• Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease, University of Manitoba

Education

• Accredited Pediatrician, University of Manitoba (2002)
• Medical Doctor, University of Calgary (1997)
• PhD, Molecular Virology, University of Calgary (1996)
• Bachelor of Science (After Degree), Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology, University of Calgary (1990)
• Bachelor of Science, Zoology, University of Calgary (1988)

Awards

2020:

• Faculty Educator of the Year, Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba

2016:

• Government of Canada in celebration of the 50th anniversary of our National Flag to 50 Canadians who have contributed to the well-being of our citizens
• Order of Manitoba Buffalo Hunt

2003:

• Team Excellence Award – Health Canada

2002:

• CIHR Clinician-Scientist Post-Doctoral Award

1997:

• Award for International Health Student Electives – Tropical Medicine – Thailand

1991-1996:

• Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Studentship