B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

Directors

Dr. Julio Montaner, MD, FRCPC
Director of the Centre
Director, Clinical Activities
Dr. Montaner has over 20 years experience in HIV/AIDS research and developing and conducting HIV-related clinical trials. He has published extensively with regard to respiratory complications of HIV and the use of antiretroviral therapies. Dr. Montaner has provided leadership developing, implementing and successfully completing several important international studies including the INCAS, the AVANTI series and CAESAR trials. He has also played an important role in the evaluation of alternative therapeutic approaches and has pioneered multiple drug rescue therapy. Dr. Montaner plays a key role in the evaluation and transfer of research advances into clinical practice via the development of the HIV/AIDS Therapeutic Guidelines by a consensus process in the province of B.C. The HIV/AIDS clinical research program is supported by both peer-reviewed and pharmaceutical industry funding and conducts Phase 2b, 3 and 4 clinical trials.

Dr Martin Schechter, MD, PhD
Director, Epidemiology
Epidemiological research of the HIV epidemic in B.C. was initiated by D.r Schechter even before the virus was first identified in the early 1980s. These initial studies demonstrated the extensive spread of a transmissible AIDS agent prior to the identification of HIV. His subsequent investigations have shown an association between lower socioeconomic status and shorter survival for people with HIV despite the availability of free antiretroviral agents and independent of access to care. In 1996, Dr Schechter documented the explosive outbreak of HIV and hepatitis C among injection drug users in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, while subsequent studies revealed risks and patterns of transmission in this area. Under Dr. Schechter’s direction, the Centre’s epidemiologists have undertaken three large observational cohort studies involving more than 3,500 individuals. Dr. Schechter is considered an opinion leader for epidemiological research in Canada and is Principal Investigator of the CIHR-funded NAOMI study, the largest study of an intervention for drug addiction ever conducted in Canada.

Dr. Robert Hogg, PhD
Director, HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program
Dr. Robert Hogg is the Program Director of the Population Health Division and a Professor in the Department of Health Care and Epidemiology. Dr. Hogg has been employed by the Centre since 1992 and oversees the provincial HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program. He is currently involved in prospective observational epidemiologic research into the impact of antiretroviral therapy on quality of life and survivorship, and issues regarding access to antiretroviral therapy in developing nations. Along with Dr. Tom Lampinen, Dr. Hogg is currently involved in HIV incidence and HPV prevalence studies among gay and bisexual men in Vancouver. In addition to his work in HIV, he has a long standing interest in First Nations health and population-based research. Since completing his PhD in 1992, Dr. Hogg has published over 140 peer-reviewed publications and supervised or advised numerous PhD and MSc students. He currently holds a career award from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.

Dr. Richard Harrigan, PhD
Director, Research laboratory
Dr. Harrigan has been involved in HIV research since 1992. His research has focused on HIV drug efficacy and resistance, including the genetic basis of HIV drug resistance in vitro and in vivo. At the Centre, this has involved studies of several major cohorts, as well as the B.C. HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program participants. In addition to directing clinically driven basic research initiatives, he has developed and implemented the HIV/AIDS Drug Resistance Testing Program and has initiated the development of a therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) program. Dr. Harrigan has previous experience in antiretroviral drug development and genomics research in the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Harrigan’s work includes a significant contribution to the scientific literature including descriptions of novel HIV drug resistance mutations and their effects on viral suppression and clinical outcomes, the impact of cross resistance, and recommendations for standards in drug resistance testing.

Irene Goldstone, RN, BN, MSc
Director, Professional Education
Ms. Goldstone has been involved in the delivery of HIV/AIDS care and education to health care professionals since 1982 when she was appointed Director of Nursing, Medicine at St. Paul’s Hospital. Over the next decade she helped develop the inpatient HIV/AIDS program at St. Paul’s. The program established an integrated model of care on the medical teaching units and the newly opened palliative care unit. In 1992, Ms. Goldstone joined the Centre to develop educational programs for undergraduate and practising health care professionals. In this role and as Adjunct Professor, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Ms. Goldstone worked with colleagues to offer an undergraduate nursing elective in the School of Nursing and an interprofessional elective in HIV/AIDS through the College of Health Disciplines. In 1996, The Canadian Association of Nurses in AIDS Care presented her with the Award of Excellence in Education. Ms. Goldstone has also undertaken studies that have contributed to the development and evaluation of programs of AIDS palliative care.

Dr. Michael O’Shaughnessy, PhD
Founding Director
Dr. O’Shaughnessy was hired as founding director of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in 1992. In 2001, he was appointed Vice President Research and Tertiary Programs at Providence Health Care, and Assistant Dean of Research in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Under his leadership, the Centre has developed into a national and world leader in HIV/AIDS treatment and research. Dr. O’Shaughnessy retired as Director of the Centre in October 2003.

Irene Day
Director of Operations
Ms. Day possesses a strong background in health care. She previously held middle and senior management positions with the Canadian Blood Services (CBS). While at CBS, she spearheaded development and operation of blood collection clinics in the province. Ms. Day is also a nurse who has worked in emergency, surgical, medical and home-care settings, and taught at several B.C. colleges. Irene holds a Bachelor of Nursing from Dalhousie University and a Masters of Business Administration from City University. Ms. Day is responsible for the daily management of the Centre's operations and implementing the policies and strategic direction of the organization. She also fosters working relationships with relevant community and external agencies to ensure appropriate input into the Centre's activities.


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	PRINT About us Directors Dr. Julio Montaner, MD, FRCPC Director of the Centre Director, Clinical Activities Dr. Montaner has over 20 years experience in HIV/AIDS research and developing and conducting HIV-related clinical trials. He has published extensively with regard to respiratory complications of HIV and the use of antiretroviral therapies. Dr. Montaner has provided leadership developing, implementing and successfully completing several important international studies including the INCAS, the AVANTI series and CAESAR trials. He has also played an important role in the evaluation of alternative therapeutic approaches and has pioneered multiple drug rescue therapy. Dr. Montaner plays a key role in the evaluation and transfer of research advances into clinical practice via the development of the HIV/AIDS Therapeutic Guidelines by a consensus process in the province of B.C. The HIV/AIDS clinical research program is supported by both peer-reviewed and pharmaceutical industry funding and conducts Phase 2b, 3 and 4 clinical trials. Dr Martin Schechter, MD, PhD Director, Epidemiology Epidemiological research of the HIV epidemic in B.C. was initiated by D.r Schechter even before the virus was first identified in the early 1980s. These initial studies demonstrated the extensive spread of a transmissible AIDS agent prior to the identification of HIV. His subsequent investigations have shown an association between lower socioeconomic status and shorter survival for people with HIV despite the availability of free antiretroviral agents and independent of access to care. In 1996, Dr Schechter documented the explosive outbreak of HIV and hepatitis C among injection drug users in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, while subsequent studies revealed risks and patterns of transmission in this area. Under Dr. Schechter’s direction, the Centre’s epidemiologists have undertaken three large observational cohort studies involving more than 3,500 individuals. Dr. Schechter is considered an opinion leader for epidemiological research in Canada and is Principal Investigator of the CIHR-funded NAOMI study, the largest study of an intervention for drug addiction ever conducted in Canada. Dr. Robert Hogg, PhD Director, HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program Dr. Robert Hogg is the Program Director of the Population Health Division and a Professor in the Department of Health Care and Epidemiology. Dr. Hogg has been employed by the Centre since 1992 and oversees the provincial HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program. He is currently involved in prospective observational epidemiologic research into the impact of antiretroviral therapy on quality of life and survivorship, and issues regarding access to antiretroviral therapy in developing nations. Along with Dr. Tom Lampinen, Dr. Hogg is currently involved in HIV incidence and HPV prevalence studies among gay and bisexual men in Vancouver. In addition to his work in HIV, he has a long standing interest in First Nations health and population-based research. Since completing his PhD in 1992, Dr. Hogg has published over 140 peer-reviewed publications and supervised or advised numerous PhD and MSc students. He currently holds a career award from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. Dr. Richard Harrigan, PhD Director, Research laboratory Dr. Harrigan has been involved in HIV research since 1992. His research has focused on HIV drug efficacy and resistance, including the genetic basis of HIV drug resistance in vitro and in vivo. At the Centre, this has involved studies of several major cohorts, as well as the B.C. HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program participants. In addition to directing clinically driven basic research initiatives, he has developed and implemented the HIV/AIDS Drug Resistance Testing Program and has initiated the development of a therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) program. Dr. Harrigan has previous experience in antiretroviral drug development and genomics research in the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Harrigan’s work includes a significant contribution to the scientific literature including descriptions of novel HIV drug resistance mutations and their effects on viral suppression and clinical outcomes, the impact of cross resistance, and recommendations for standards in drug resistance testing. Irene Goldstone, RN, BN, MSc Director, Professional Education Ms. Goldstone has been involved in the delivery of HIV/AIDS care and education to health care professionals since 1982 when she was appointed Director of Nursing, Medicine at St. Paul’s Hospital. Over the next decade she helped develop the inpatient HIV/AIDS program at St. Paul’s. The program established an integrated model of care on the medical teaching units and the newly opened palliative care unit. In 1992, Ms. Goldstone joined the Centre to develop educational programs for undergraduate and practising health care professionals. In this role and as Adjunct Professor, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Ms. Goldstone worked with colleagues to offer an undergraduate nursing elective in the School of Nursing and an interprofessional elective in HIV/AIDS through the College of Health Disciplines. In 1996, The Canadian Association of Nurses in AIDS Care presented her with the Award of Excellence in Education. Ms. Goldstone has also undertaken studies that have contributed to the development and evaluation of programs of AIDS palliative care. Dr. Michael O’Shaughnessy, PhD Founding Director Dr. O’Shaughnessy was hired as founding director of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in 1992. In 2001, he was appointed Vice President Research and Tertiary Programs at Providence Health Care, and Assistant Dean of Research in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Under his leadership, the Centre has developed into a national and world leader in HIV/AIDS treatment and research. Dr. O’Shaughnessy retired as Director of the Centre in October 2003. Irene Day Director of Operations Ms. Day possesses a strong background in health care. She previously held middle and senior management positions with the Canadian Blood Services (CBS). While at CBS, she spearheaded development and operation of blood collection clinics in the province. Ms. Day is also a nurse who has worked in emergency, surgical, medical and home-care settings, and taught at several B.C. colleges. Irene holds a Bachelor of Nursing from Dalhousie University and a Masters of Business Administration from City University. Ms. Day is responsible for the daily management of the Centre's operations and implementing the policies and strategic direction of the organization. She also fosters working relationships with relevant community and external agencies to ensure appropriate input into the Centre's activities.