TickNet Canada 2024 Scientific Symposium
Welcome to the TickNet Canada Scientific Symposium 2024
TickNet Canada is an interdisciplinary national research network of scientists, policymakers, health care providers and citizens established to produce scientific and living evidence to guide policies and programs to mitigate the emerging threat of tick-borne disease driven by climate change, affecting the health of all Canadians.
Our second scientific symposium will be held October 29-30, 2024 in Nanaimo, British Columbia. There will be a meet and greet social the evening of Oct 28, 2024. The event will bring together scientists, healthcare professionals, research staff, students, trainees and patient, family and community partners from all over North America to address current issues surrounding tick-borne diseases.
Requests for a certificate of attendance at the TickNet Canada Scientific Symposium 2024 for documentation of event hours for credits can be sent to clydrn@gmail.com. Certificate of attendance letters will be issued following the event.
Meet Our Speakers
Dr. Jean Tsao
Michigan State University
Plenary talk title: Studies on the ecology of tick-borne diseases vectored by a generalist tick with a huge geographic range: why?
Dr. Tsao has more than 20 years of experience learning about the ecology of ticks and tick-borne pathogens with implications for improving public health. Together with many colleagues and motivated students, Dr. Tsao has had the privilege to investigate the ecology of Lyme borreliosis in endemic, non-endemic, and emerging areas at local, regional, and continental spatial scales. Funded by the CDC’s Midwest Center of Excellence, NIH, and other sources, current research in Dr. Tsao’s lab includes elucidating the ecological processes underlying the emergence and distribution of ticks and tick-borne pathogens; developing approaches to reduce disease risk by intervening in the enzootic cycle or by changing human behavior; and investigating how interactions between the microbiome and the tick may influence tick phenotypes and disease risk. Dr. Tsao has served as an associate editor for the international journal Ticks and Tickborne Diseases; served as a member of the 2018 Subcommittee for Disease Vectors, Surveillance, and Prevention for the US Department of Health and Human Service's Tickborne Disease Working Group; and was a co-author of the 2021 Infectious Disease Society of America's Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Lyme disease.
Dr. Linden Hu
Tufts University School of Medicine
Plenary talk title: Defusing the (ticking) bomb: advances in prevention and diagnosis of Lyme disease.
Dr. Linden Hu is the Paul and Elaine Chervinsky Professor of Immunology at Tufts Medical School. Dr. Hu received his A.B. and M.D. from Brown University. He completed training in Infectious Diseases at Tufts Medical Center. His laboratory works on multiple aspects of Lyme disease including vaccine development, new diagnostics and treatments, and understanding interactions between Borrelia burgdorferi and its tick and animal hosts. Most recently, his lab has been researching how the organism evades the host immune response and how human genetic mutations may alter the ability of the bacterial host to control inflammatory responses. The lab is also partnering with other laboratories on strategies to eradicate tick borne pathogens from their wild reservoirs.
Symposium Details
Dates
Registration and Social: Monday, October 28, 2024 (4-7 pm)
Scientific Symposium (Day 1): Tuesday, October 29, 2024 (8 am- 6 pm)
Scientific Symposium (Day 2): Wednesday, October 30, 2024 (8 am- 5 pm)
Vancouver Island Conference Centre
101 Gordon St, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9R 5J8
Accommodations
The Courtyard Marriott across the street from the conference centre has rooms blocked off for the conference and a special group rate has been offered. You can book your stay and find out more details by following this LINK.
*NOTE: The reserved room block will be released Friday September 27th. To take advantage of the group rate and room block you must book through the link above.
Getting to Nanaimo
There are several ways to make your way to Nanaimo.
Flying:
Both Westjet and Air Canada offer flights to Nanaimo airport. From Nanaimo airport to the downtown you can take a 20 min taxi ride (~$60), book a ride with the Nanaimo Airporter, or take transit (see the schedule HERE. NOTE: With transit there are limited times and no Sunday service)
Float plane:
From YVR take the free shuttle to the south terminal float planes. Fly from the Richmond South Terminal to downtown Nanaimo via Harbour air. From Harbour air you are a 5 min walk to the conference centre. Sea Air also offers flights from the Richmond South Terminal to Nanaimo. When you arrive at the Nanaimo Sea Air terminal take a 10 min taxi ride (~$20) to the conference centre or ride the city bus from the BC ferry terminal to downtown (#20 or #25) and ask to be let off close to the conference centre.
Ferries:
BC ferries (no foot passenger reservation needed) offers two routes to Nanaimo.
1. Vancouver Airport to Horseshoe Bay, North Vancouver to Departure Bay, Nanaimo.
From Vancouver airport (YVR) take the Sky train Canada line (to waterfront) and get off at Vancouver City Centre station, exit the station to street level then cross West Georgia street and catch the 257 Express Bus to Horseshoe Bay (Bus stop in front of Hudson's Bay store) to the end of the line which is the Horseshoe Bay Ferry terminal in North Vancouver. Take the ferry bound for Departure Bay Nanaimo. In Nanaimo take a 10 min taxi ride (~$20) to the conference centre or ride the city bus to downtown (#20 or #25) and ask to be let off close to the conference centre.
2. Tsawwassen (Sa-wa-sen) to Duke Point.
From Vancouver airport (YVR) you can take public transport, taxi etc. to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal. Upon arrival in Nanaimo take a taxi (~$60) or book a trip with the Nanaimo Airporter.
From Vancouver airport (YVR) take the Canada line to waterfront station. From there take a 15-20 min walk to the Hullo ferry terminal. Upon arrival to Nanaimo take a taxi to the conference centre, ride the #25 bus to downtown (ask to get off by the conference centre) or walk (Approx 20-25 min)
Car rentals
Budget Car and Truck rentals are extending their Provincial Government rates to attendees of the conference. Any attendees who are wanting to rent a vehicle can either email vipreservations@bcbudget.com or call the reservations 250-760-7368 and ask for Alex or Leela and mention you are booking for "TickNet Canada Scientific Symposium".
Location
Vancouver Island Conference Centre
101 Gordon Street Nanaimo, BC Canada, V9R 5J8Registration period
May 1, 2024 - 00:00 until October 28, 2024 - 23:59
Submission period
May 1, 2024 - 00:00 until October 4, 2024 - 23:59
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact clydrn@gmail.com .
