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CANFAR ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020
CURRENT RESEARCH ON-GOING RESEARCH Title: 2019 CANFAR/CTN Postdoctoral Fellow Funding: $50,000 CANFAR Grant Lead: Dr. Elisabeth McClymont Time Frame: On-going since 1992 Description: An undergraduate course, “The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic”, enthralled Elisabeth with the multifaceted nature of the HIV epidemic. During her time as a postdoctoral fellow with the CTN, Dr. McClymont will be investigating cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission among women living with HIV and their children. CMV is one of the most common viral infections, present in an estimated 40-100% of people worldwide. In those with compromised immune systems (uncontrolled HIV, leukemia, newborns), the virus can cause health complications including gastrointestinal infections and neurological disorders. Dr. MClymont explained, “The earlier stage of vaccine development for CMV brings different and interesting questions of how to optimize a vaccine to best suit people living with and without HIV. Understanding the natural CMV transmission dynamics in women living with HIV will help inform that optimal vaccine design.”
