Special Immunization Clinic (SIC) Network

The SIC Network, co-led by Dr. Karina Top and Dr. Juthaporn Cowan,  was established in 2013 to improve immunization practices for patients who had experienced adverse events following immunization (AEFI) and those who have medical conditions that may affect their response to immunizations. This is a sub-network of the Canadian Immunization Research Network, which was established to serve as a primary source of research capacity to provide data to inform public health decision-making about immunization programs to improve the health of Canadians.

The network is comprised of a national team of expert clinicians with an interest in vaccine safety. In addition to clinical care, the SIC Network conducts research. Research results identify issues and provide recommendations to support the work of clinicians and policy decision makers in vaccine safety.

For more information, please contact: sicnet@ualberta.ca.

  • Dr. Karina Top is a pediatric infectious disease physician and clinician-scientist in vaccine research. She is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta. Dr. Top completed medical school and pediatric residency at Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS and went on to complete fellowship training in pediatric infectious diseases and a Master of Science (Epidemiology) at Columbia University in New York. From 2011 to 2023, she was on the faculty of Dalhousie University and IWK Health where she established a research program focused on understanding causes and risk factors for rare adverse events following immunization, and improving vaccination practices for people with adverse events following immunization, those who are immunocompromised, and in pregnancy.

    Dr. Top is the co-Principal Investigator of the Canadian Immunization Research Network’s Special Immunization Clinic Network and Principal Investigator of the International Network of Special Immunization Services. She was awarded the CIHR-CEPI Leadership Award for Excellence in Vaccine Research in 2021. She contributes her expertise as a member of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, the Brighton Collaboration Science Board, and in supporting World Health Organization-led vaccine safety trainings in the European region.

  • Dr. Juthaporn Cowan is a Physician for the Division of Infectious Diseases at The Ottawa Hospital, an Associate Scientist at The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Associate Professor at The University of Ottawa, cross-appointed Associate Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology.

    Dr. Cowan obtained her MD from Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, and a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from Kyoto University in Kyoto, Japan. She then completed her training in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at University of Ottawa. Her research focuses on infection prevention for individuals with immunocompromising conditions. She is a medical lead of the Ontario Immunoglobulin Treatment program and a co-lead of the Special Immunization Clinic network of the Canadian Immunization Research Network.

SIC Network locations across Canada:

  • Halifax:
    IWK Health:
    PI - Dr. J. Comeau

    Nova Scotia Health:
    Site co-I - Dr. S. McNeil
    Site contact (adults and pediatrics): sicnurse@iwk.nshealth.ca

  • Montreal:
    Montreal Children’s Hospital:
    PI - Dr. J. Papenburg
    Site contact: emily.shallhorn@rimuhc.ca

    Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sainte-Justine:
    PI - Dr. M. Paquette
    Site contact: denis.blais.hsj@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

    Quebec City:
    Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec, Université Laval:
    PI - Dr. J-P. Drolet

    CHU de Quebec:
    Site Co-I - Dr. I. Viel-Theriault
    Site contact: projet.sic@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca

  • Calgary:
    Alberta Children’s Hospital:
    PI - Dr. C. Constantinescu
    Site contact: Chris.Ireland@albertahealthservices.ca

    Edmonton:
    Stollery Children’s Hospital:
    PI - Dr. C. Burton

    University of Alberta Hospital:
    Site co-I - Dr. R. Harrison
    Site contact (adults and pediatrics): cbon@ualberta.ca

  • Vancouver:
    BC Children’s Hospital:
    PI - Dr. M. Sadarangani
    Site contact (adults and pediatrics): lou.marquez@cw.bc.ca