Brian Ward

Background

About Brian Ward

Extensive medical and scientific training at McGill (MDCM, internal medicine & microbiology), Oxford University (MSc), University of London (DTM & H in tropical medicine) and Johns Hopkins (internal medicine & infectious diseases). More than 30 years of clinical experience with a parallel history of grant-funded research (>290 peer-reviewed manuscripts) in infectious diseases, vaccine development and international health. Developed and ran the Canadian National reference lab for parasite diagnostics for >25 years. A founding member of the Canadian Association for Immunization Research and Evaluation. Director of the McGill Vaccine Study Centre and Associate Director of the McGill Tropical Diseases Center for >25 years. Broad experience with small-large vaccine manufacturers that culminating in joining Medicago Inc in 2017 as medical officer while retaining my academic position (50%FTE). Oversaw the development of candidate, plant-made vaccines for influenza, norovirus and SARS-COV-2 including 3 global, phase 3 pivotal studies. Our SARS-COV-2 candidate (Covifenz) was licensed in Canada in Feb 2022. Among other honours/awards, Rhodes scholar (Quebec/Corpus Christie: 1977) and recipient of the US Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award (2003) for work related to vaccine safety.