New Global Virus Network has Vancouver node

Vancouver's Brain Research Centre (BRC) will be home to the neurovirology division of the Global Virus Network (GVN), a new independent organization involving 25 countries ratified in an early March meeting in Washington. GVN is dedicated to creating an international network of virus experts to identify new and emerging viruses, build collaborative research alliances, train future virus researchers and public health education. The Vancouver branch is a collaboration between the BRC, Univ of British Columbia faculty of medicine and the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. It will be led by BRC director Dr Max Cyander and includes Dr Neil Cashman and Dr William Jia. The GVN is the brainchild of Dr Robert Gallo, a world renowned researcher responsible for the discovery of the first human retroviruses, co-discovery of HIV and development of the HIV blood test. The Washington meeting attracted roughly 40 scientists who signed a declaration of participation and support. Organizers hope to raise $25 million a year and will meet in the fall to discuss a more developed organizational structure and funding opportunities….