Wayne Conlan Email & Phone Number

Expertise in rodent models of infectious diseases, most notably with highly pathogenic Francisella tularensis, a CDC category A pathogen. I have also worked on brucellosis, plague, and anthrax during the past few years. At NRC, I manage a vaccine development program for these pathogens. We have received ~ $10 million from NIH for our Francisella program which has led to the development of a promising new vaccine candidate that is safer and more effective than the incumbent. In 2016 DTRA granted $5.0M to a consortium, including my team, for further clinical development of this vaccine to include GMP manufacture and NHP efficacy testing with the goal of having an IND ready product within the next 5 years. In 2018 I was awarded the NRC Schneider medal for this work https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/national-research-council-of-canada-recognizes-scientific-and-technological-achievements-702596811.html We have now licensed this vaccine to Appili Therapeutics who recently received a further $7.0M from DTRA for manufacturing and clinical trials https://financialpost.com/pmn/press-releases-pmn/business-wire-news-releases-pmn/appili-therapeutics-announces-additional-funding-for-its-ati-1701-biodefense-program. This seemed as good a time as any to call it quits, and I formally retired from NRC in January 2020. However, I still work for them 1.5 days a week as part of their post-retirement program. I expect before too long they'll "promote" me to scientist emeritus so they won't have to pay me anything at all!For the past 23 years I've run a small animal containment level 3 facility equipped to perform infectious aerosol work. Currently, it is dedicated to work on SARS CoV1&2 and MERS. It is certified by PHAC, CFIA, and CDC for select agent work. I developed the SOPs, training videos, medical surveillance program etc for this facility. Consequently, I have a more general interest in biosafety. I was a member of the editorial committee for the 3rd edition of Health Canada's Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines (2004). Also, I was a member of the expert panel convened to help PHAC integrate the former guidelines with those of the CFIA into the Canadian Biosafety Standards and Guidelines. Also I appeared before the Commons and Senate Health Committees as an expert witness during the development of the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act. According to Google Scholar, I have co-authored approximately 100 manuscripts garnering a total of 6400 citations and an h-index of 46, but I can't tell you whether this represents a respectable outcome for 35+ years of work!

Listed skills include Microbiology, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Vaccines, and 5 others.