1. The Value of Networking in Allergy & Asthma Research Judah A. Denburg, MD, FRCP(C) Scientific Director and CEO The Allergy Genes and Environment Network Genes & the Environment : The Genesis of Allergy and Asthma Workshop March 1-3, 2009, Vancouver, BC

2. Networks of Centres of Excellence Mission Mobilize Canada’s research talent in the academic, private and public sectors and apply it to developing the economy and improving the quality of life of Canadians

3. Why Canada Built Networks Vast country Dispersed institutions Link strengths Create critical mass Micronet CANVAC AllerGenHEALNet SFMPENCEWood-Pulps MITACS CITR CBDN AquaNet GEOIDECIPI CGDNTLNCEIRISCSNCAN ISIS Auto21CLLRnetStemNetCWN

4. Innovation from cell to society Federal S&T Strategy The Knowledge Advantage The People Advantage The Entrepreneurial Advantage

5. Innovation from cell to society Strategic Positioning of Network Investments

6. Innovation from cell to society

7. The Allergy Epidemic Allergy and allergic diseases most prevalent chronic condition in developed world Global demand for allergic disease diagnostics, treatments, cures

8. Innovation from cell to society Need for AllerGen NCE Increase in allergic diseases, including asthma, prevalence: the “Atopic March” ~40% of Canadians suffer from allergies 1 in 12 Canadians have asthma – chronic Allergy and asthma are major policy and public health issues in Canada Research and development focused on impact in partnership with industry, healthcare, policy and not-for-profit sectors

9. Innovation from cell to society AllerGen’s VISION To create an enduring network of allergy and immune disease experts whose discovery and development efforts contribute to reductions in the impact of allergic and related immune diseases nationally and globally.

10. Innovation from cell to society AllerGen’s MISSION To catalyze and support discovery, development, networking, capacity building, commercialization and knowledge translation that contribute to reducing the morbidity, mortality and socio-economic burden of allergic and related immune diseases.

12. Networking: Making the connection 30 academic institutions 28 research institutes 200 scientists 300 trainees 8 global foci 7 provinces

13. Innovation from cell to society Six Key Accomplishments Clinical Investigator Collaborative (CIC) Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Study Genomics and genetics research Food allergy research programme New training opportunities & partnerships International leadership (IPI programme)

14. Innovation from cell to society Integrated Programmatic Research Structure

15. Innovation from cell to society Integrated Programmatic Research Structure 2007-2012 CHILD CIC Biomarkers/Genetics Food Allergy Mind-Body Interactions Environmental Exposures Public Policy, Ethics & Law Occupational and Work-related allergy & asthma

16. Innovation from cell to society Networking and Partnerships Progress >250 partner organizations AllerGen leveraging of partner cash and in-kind contributions exceeds 1:1 target by >100% (2008)

17. Ratio 1:2.4

18. Innovation from cell to society International Partnership Initiatives 5 new international partnerships facilitated by an NCE/IDRC pilot grant 2007-9 –GA 2 LEN (Belgium/EU) –IUALTD (France/ El Salvador/Mexico) –Karolinska Institute (Sweden) –St. John’s Institute (India) –WHO/GARD/ARIA (Montpelier/Geneva) New, emerging international collaborations: Europe (GABRIEL), Germany (Humboldt/Helmholtz), Taiwan, China, Israel, USA

19. Innovation from cell to society … Making a Difference Without AllerGen, there would be no: Canadian focus on allergy and asthma research across disciplines Clinical Investigator Collaborative CHILD Study (national birth cohort) International collaboration on genetic association studies for allergy & asthma genes Canadian leadership in global respiratory health initiatives National food allergy research programme - bench to bedside to policy to community Specialized allergy research training and development opportunities for trainees, young professionals, physicians Partnerships with patient, professional and policy organizations linking allergy researchers with healthcare providers and disease management support groups

20. Building new relationships industry government academia not-for-profit healthcare A network of people

21. “Research is to see what everybody has seen and to think what nobody has thought." Albert Szent-Györgyi, 1937 Nobel Prize Winner, Physiology/ Medicine