Research

I conduct detailed population-based and other epidemiological studies that seek to answer important clinical questions related to group B streptococcus as well as to group A streptococcus (GAS), Staphylococcus aureus, and other pathogens. My research links microbiology, clinical observation, and community-wide data collection in the study of infectious diseases in children. While in Canada, I established a province-wide population based surveillance network to study neonatal group B streptococcal infections. This network has subsequently been used extremely effectively in helping to elucidate the epidemiology of GBS in Canada as well as to unravel some previously unanswered questions related to this disease in the literature. We conducted the first population-based studies of the epidemiology of neonatal GBS infections in Canada that provided detailed information on capsular serotypes and an estimation of the coverage rates of candidate GBS conjugate vaccines. We have also studied cohorts of pregnant women to examine the relationship between specific GBS serotypes and pathogenicity, examined the role of rapid GBS screening using real time PCR for pregnant mothers, and have conducted preliminary studies on the role of the streptococcal immunogenic protein (Sip) as a potential vaccine candidate. While I am a clinical based researcher, I have strong collaborations with basic science colleagues that can allow us to turn clinical observations into important research questions that can be jointly explored.

Publications

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