In This Issue:
Newborn Screening Ontario
PID Tracker
The Chaim Roifman Scholar Award for Young Investigators
Conferences
Individual Giving
Social Work Network
2013 Past Events
Special Announcement
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Dear ,

 

In 2013, we rebranded ourselves as Immunodeficiency Canada. Previously, we were known as CI Society. Our legal name "Canadian Immunodeficiency Society" remains the same. In response to program needs, we will be moving into facilities at Yonge & Gerrard in downtown Toronto in February 2014. These facilities will be a hub for our services, providing a conference/training room, flexible work areas, and program offices.

 

We are fortunate that administration costs continue to be covered by the generous support within our Corporate Sponsorship Program. This allows 100% of individual donations to be used for programs and services. We strive to be modern and cost-effective in our provision of programs and services, and hope that you feel best value is received. If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them.

 

Please consider continuing your support and making a donation as we move ahead in building a strong and responsive Primary Immunodeficiency community in Canada. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Richard Thompson, CFRE

Chief Executive Officer

 

Newborn Screening Ontario 
  
In thanks to your support, Immunodeficiency Canada nominated and secured Newborn Screening for SCID in the province of Ontario. Our effort will save the lives of the most vulnerable, the infants born with no functioning immune system.

 

"This is a monumental triumph for children born with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and their families. Newborn screening will detect this problem early before complications develop, and allow for prompt life-saving interventions such as bone marrow transplantation. Newborn screening for SCID will no doubt save many lives and prevent suffering of children."

 

Professor Chaim Roifman, MD, FRCPC

Chair and Scientific Director, Immunodeficiency Canada

 

We are now working with several health care centres to take Newborn Screening for SCID across Canada. Our goal is to have Newborn Screening for SCID available for all within two years.

 

For more information, click here.



Newborn Screening Launch (Ottawa, ON):

Deb Matthews, Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

John Fraser, Ottawa-South MPP

Dr. Pranesh Chakraborty, Director, Newborn Screening Ontario

Alex Munter, CEO, CHEO

Lori Peters, 8 year-old Ethan & sisters

Richard Thompson, CEO, Immunodeficiency Canada

Lauren Higgins, Genetic Counsellor, Newborn Screening Ontario

 

 


PID Tracker 

 

This year we are excited to announce the development of an online application, PID Tracker, developed by Dr. Jason Lee of St. Michael's Hospital (Toronto) and donated to Immunodeficiency Canada.

This online application, available free to download, is a tool which can assist individuals on antibody replacement therapy in the management of their symptoms and treatment. The official launch of the PID Tracker will take place in 2014.


The Chaim Roifman Scholar Award for Young Investigators 
Supported by Baxter, CSL Behring, Grifols, Octapharma, and Immunodeficiency Canada

This year we are proud to announce the following 2013 Chaim Roifman Scholar Awards - For Young Investigators:

 

Vy Kim, MD, Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, for her research entitled: Immune reconstitution after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for Primary Immunodeficiency.

 

Jason K. Lee, MD, FRCPC, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, for his research entitled: Development of an IOS and Android disease monitoring application for patients with Primary Immunodeficiency

 

Nicola Wright, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Alberta Children's Hospital, for her research entitled: Survey of Infection Control Precautions for Patients with Severe Combined Immune Deficiency

 

The Chaim Roifman Scholar Award for Young Investigators accepts applications year round. An award of up to $10,000 will be awarded to residents or young investigators who are studying in allergy and clinical immunology (preference will be given to Canadian-based researchers). Criteria: the research project must have clinical relevance; the research can be in progress; and the research must have received Institutional ethics approval. Click here for more information.


Conferences & Meetings

American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, AAAAI
Annual Meeting, February 28 - March 4, 2014, San Diego, CA

Canadian Society for Immunology, CSI
25th Annual CSI Conference, March 6 - 9, 2014, Quebec City, PQ

Clinical Immunology Society, CIS
Annual Meeting, April 10 - 13, 2014, Baltimore, MD

The 2014 Joint Garrod and Canadian Newborn and Child Screening Symposium

May 29-31, Ottawa, ON

Garrod/CNCSS Website

 

Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, CSACI
Annual Scientific Meeting, October 23 - 26, Ottawa, ON

Make your 2013 annual donation or consider joining the Monthly Giving Program for 2014

 

You can make a donation here or sign up for the monthly giving program. Monthly giving allows you to make your charitable donation without having to worry about forms, stamps, envelopes or forgetting to give before year-end. When you sign up, each month the amount you chose is charged to your credit card. At the end of the year you receive a tax receipt for your total contributions.

 

With all individual donations, 100% of your dollar will be used for programs and services in thanks to our Corporate Sponsorship Program supported by CSL Behring, Griffols Canada and Octapharma. Thank you for your support.


Social Work Network

In November, 2013, Wendy Shama, M.S.W., R.S.W., hosted a live webcast to launch the Primary Immunodeficiency (PI) Social Work Network connecting social workers from across Canada that work with Primary Immunodeficiency patients.  The network will help families from across the country to connect with the Immunology Social Worker at their hospital.  The network will help to increase health professionals and public awareness of PI disease, and the resources available to the population.  It will also provide a platform for discussions about this population, and the potential for psychosocial research. If you are a Social Worker working with this populations and would like more information, please contact 
wendy.shama@immunodeficiency.ca
2013 Past Events 

"Help Heal the Children" Auction - December 1-10, 2013

Thank you to all our donors, sponsors and auction bidders who made the Help Heal the Children Online Auction our best yet! Jeannine Rothblott, Community Relations Auction, was busy with many items back by popular demand and an abundance of new exciting prizes to bid on! From spa packages, jewelry, gift certificates to restaurants, retailers, sports items and more... All items were donated and 100% of proceeds will be used for patient support, education and research.

 

Auction generously sponsored by BarryCohenHomes.com

 

Special thanks to all of our prize donors:

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon - October 20, 2013

 
The Immunodeficiency Canada team participated in this year's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Run/Walk. Our team of 23 people included doctors, health care workers, patients, sponsors, and volunteers, who took to the streets of Toronto on a sunny Sunday morning to show their support. Thanks to our team and their donors, $10000 was raised, which will go toward improving treatments for patients, supporting families in crisis, educating healthcare professionals, and funding Canadian researchers. Congratulations go to the top individual donation earner of the team, Hugo Chapdelaine.

Thank you to all our runners, walkers, and supporters for making this a successful year!

Support the Shave - October 13, 2013

On a Sunday afternoon at Pickering Town Centre, Kim Wilson shaved off all her hair to support her neighbour, Matthew, who is living with Primary Immunodeficiency. Matthew was so moved by the support that he had his head shaved as well. We appreciate and applaud the efforts of individuals like Kim, who took it on herself to heighten awareness strengthen the support of the Pickering community.
 

Special Announcement: We're moving!  

Immunodeficiency Canada will be moving into facilities February 2014 to provide a hub for our programs and services.

Our new address will be:

Immunodeficiency Canada
Suite 1604 - 415 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5B 2E7

Telephone: 416-964-3434
Fax: 416-964-6594

Building a Strong PI community in Canada.

Richard Thompson, CFRE
Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Immunodeficiency Society

 
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