CI Society News - Awards, Important Dates, Events

2009 Chaim Roifman Scholar Award For Young Investigators recipient, Dr. Stuart Turvey of the University of British Columbia, for his research proposal entitled "From rare severe primary immunodeficiencies to common subtle immune defects".

For more information please visit Chaim Roifman Scholar Awards

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I Feel Great! Kids Contest Winners

Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry into our first contest. The

I Feel Great! contest was created to celebrate that while families living with a Primary Immunodeficiency may face many difficult challenges there can still be time for fun.

Our winners in the 6 - 12 years of age category are Alison and Zain and in the 13 - 18 years of age category are Audrey-Anne and Samuel.

Thank you to our contest sponsor www.ggelectronics.com

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Jeffrey Modell Canadian Immunodeficiency Network Update by Linda Pires

The Jeffrey Modell Canadian Immunodeficiency Network serves as a highly respected healthcare resource across Canada fostering early diagnosis of Primary Immune Deficiencies. Through networking, knowledge dissemination and communication among healthcare professionals, patients and the general public, the Network can ensure that patients have access to excellent care.

Great Grants on the Go

The Network continues to support its community in the educational and diagnostic developments of PID. Dr. Anne Des Roches of Sainte Justine Hospital was recently awarded a seminar series grant to aid in the training of her fellows in both basic and applied immunology/immunodeficiency. To further aid in fellow training, April 2010 marked the JMCIN's second national distribution of Dr. Chaim Roifman's edition of Immunology & Allergy Clinics of North America to trainees in Immunology. The first of two parts, this book on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation will facilitate the education of Canadian fellows on best practices for transplantation in PID. Our desire to educate does not end with our fellows. The JMCIN strives to reach out to all physicians and patients. On June 11th, 2010, the Quebec Physician's formation on PID will embody this by hosting a symposium open to all Quebec physicians who have an interest in treating/recognizing primary immunodeficiencies. Hosted by 3 JMCIN sites (Montreal Children's Hospital, St. Justine's Hospital and CHUQ-CHUL) it is sure to be a success. Similarly the CI Society's What is PID booklet is now in its production phase. This tool will aid patients and physicians in understanding how the immune system works, what is a PID, and how it is diagnosed and treated in Canada. Distribution to hospitals across Canada is scheduled for fall 2010. If you have an educational or diagnostic project to better the lives of patients with PID, submit an application by visiting Grant Application Form.

Lights, Camera, Action on Primary

Immunodeficiency Video Conference Rounds
With great success since its inception, this highly valuable medium continues to permit discussions of difficult cases with expert physicians across the country, and facilitate better care for patients. Immunologists across Canada at JMCIN sites rotate hosting video presentations in which two complex cases are presented by trainees and discussed. Accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario for 1.5 hours per seminar, attendance has been spectacular. Participation continues to be accessible through telemedicine network sites and webcasting. Site participation increased to 11 national sites from 7 sites in 2008, ensuring physicians in remote areas can listen in to our JMCIN Canadian experts, and enhance their own personal knowledge on PID patients. Our remaining scheduled dates for 2010 are: Monday June 7 from Stollery Children's Hospital Edmonton, Monday September 13 from Montreal Children's Hospital, and Monday November 22 from Hopital CHUQ-CHUL. With permission, case studies continue to be archived on the CI Society Physicians Only Webpage.

Join The CI Society as an Affiliated Member

The JMCIN is pleased to announce the expansion of our membership to Affiliated Members. If you are a physician who does not specialize in Immunology but finds a growing need for it in your practice, join the JMCIN today.Your membership will provide you with the opportunity to participate in all JMCIN educational events and direct access to all 10 Network sites for expert guidance with your patients.

For additional information please contact Linda Pires, Manager, JMF Network of Centres network@cisociety.com

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Why should I join a Monthly Giving Program?

Ethan It is because of your support the CI Society is able to help create success stories like Ethan's. Ethan was born in April 2005 with no T-cells; but he was correctly diagnosed and successfully treated with a bone marrow transplant. Like Ethan, each year over 1,000 children are referred to a children's hospital in Canada to be tested for a Primary Immunodeficiency Disease (PID). Unfortunately, 50% of children with a PID still go undiagnosed, and thus face unnecessary suffering and premature death.

The CI Society operates without government funding, and relies upon individuals like you to continue to successfully provide high quality programs and services. Like most charities, the 2009 recession impacted our funding. Yet, the CI Society was able to expand programs by holding administration costs to just 8% of the total budget. We are proud to be more cost effective than most charities. With the CI Society your donation dollars go further.

We invite you to join our monthly giving program. $5.00 a month helps send a child to camp, $10 a month helps pay for medication not covered by provincial programs, $25 a month helps cover one month accommodation for a family with a child in hospital. You may direct 100% of your donation to the Alastair Fund which provides emergency financial assistance, or to the Chaim Roifman Scholar Award Endowment which provides much needed research dollars.

The CI Society is at the forefront of new developments in care and support of PID patients in Canada. We invite you to be a part.

Yes I want to join!

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