History

The International Centre for Infectious Diseases was incorporated in 2004, created on the recommendation of a 2003 joint federal, provincial and community task force. The task force, co-chaired by Dr. Frank Plummer of the Public Health Agency of Canada and Terry Duguid, ICID’s President and CEO, envisioned a not-for-profit, independent organization mandated to:

“…work with government researchers, universities and the private sector to bridge gaps that exist among public and private institutions.”

and

November 2003 
“Fighting Disease – Fostering Innovation: The Report of the International Centre for Infectious Diseases Task Force” is published.
Click here to download the report.

May 2004
The Government of Canada commits its founding investment for the creation of the International Centre for Infectious Diseases, at the same time that the establishment of the Public Health Agency of Canada is announced.

October 2004
ICID is incorporated and the inaugural Board of Directors is named. The Board of Directors selects Terry Duguid as ICID’s founding President & CEO. The Board Chair is Dr. Stephen Moses of the University of Manitoba.

February 2005
ICID hosts its first public event, bringing together over twenty community leaders in Manitoba for a presentation and discussion on the potential for emerging business opportunities in the biodefence industry resulting from the introduction of  Project BioShield legislation in the United States.

April 2005
ICID hosts several federal Assistant Deputy Ministers and other officials for a discussion on supporting the continued growth of Manitoba’s infectious disease cluster initiatives and ventures.

April 2005
ICID moves into permanent offices in the National Research Council’s Institute for Biodiagnostics in Winnipeg.

April 2005
The Government of Canada announces funding for six National Collaborating Centres to strengthen public health in Canada. One of these, the National Collaborating Centre on Infectious Diseases, is established within ICID.

May 2005
ICID co-presents the first Summer Institute in Infectious Diseases at the University of Winnipeg Global College.

October 2005
ICID hosts its inaugural Research and Innovation Retreat, bringing together over 110 Manitoba-based infectious diseases researchers to share information on latest endeavours, to explore collaborations and generate new ideas.

January 2006
The National Collaborating Centre on Infectious Diseases (NCCID) names its Advisory Board, including public health and infectious diseases experts from across Canada. The Board Chair is Dr. Robert Brunham of BC-CDC.

February 2006
Dr. Rafick-Pierre Sékaly of Montreal, Quebec, and Dr. Mary Pat Moyer of San Antonio, Texas join the Board of Directors.

May 2006
ICID co-present two innovative, public-private international biosafety workshops with the Public Health Agency of Canada and Smith Carter Architects and Engineers.

June 2006
The National Business Summit on Pandemic Preparedness, Mitigation and Recovery is held in Winnipeg by ICID, drawing together a national audience and garnering significant media attention.

August 2006
Dr. Lorne Babiuk, Director of Saskatoon’s Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Organization, takes over as Chair of the ICID Board of Directors.

August 2006
Distinguished international researcher and clinician Dr. Allan Ronald is appointed as the inaugural Scientific Director of the ICID-hosted NCCID

September 2006
ICID co-presents Filoviruses: Recent Advances and Future Challenges Global Symposium, bringing to Winnipeg over 160 Ebola and Marburg scientists from around the globe, including representatives from organizations such as the World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health.

October 2006
The second Research and Innovation Retreat is held, this time expanding to involve members of Saskatchewan’s infectious disease research community as well.

January 2007
ICID begins working with global partners the European Biosafety Association, American Biological Safety Association, Det Norske Veritas and others on the creation of an International Biosafety and Biosecurity Laboratory Management Standard (www.biorisk.eu).

May 2007
ICID co-presents the 6^th International High Containment Biosafety Workshop with the Public Health Agency of Canada, assembling students from eleven countries.