CWN and the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID) have assembled a distinguished group of experts to provide guidance and insights that inform our Wastewater-based Surveillance (WBS) Program.
The expert advisory group comprises leading researchers, innovators and practitioners in the field of wastewater-based surveillance. By sharing their knowledge of cutting-edge research, emerging innovations and best practices, this group helps to ensure that our work remains at the forefront of this rapidly evolving area.
Dr. Michael Becker
Research scientist at the Public Health Agency of Canada
Dr. Becker is a research scientist at the Public Health Agency of Canada. His research program explores diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2 and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs), with a focus on deploying, evaluating, and developing rapid or point-of-care tests.
This work strives to support Northern, Remote, and Isolated (NRI) communities by developing solutions to overcome barriers to diagnostic testing and effective healthcare, with the ultimate goal of reaching the undiagnosed and supporting underserved populations.
Dr. Becker’s team also explores the use of innovative approaches that may improve the health of NRI communities and underserved populations. This includes the use of wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 and STBBIs in remote settings. This work is in collaboration with the National Wastewater Surveillance Laboratory. It provides an early warning system for disease outbreaks and can monitor overall population health to inform public health action and outreach initiatives.
Dr. David Patrick
Professor at the University of British Columbia
Dr. Patrick is an infectious diseases specialist and epidemiologist with a career interest in responding to emerging infectious diseases. His published research spans the areas of HIV epidemiology, impacts of immunization on population health, vector-borne and zoonotic disease, and COVID-19. Responding to the COVID-19 epidemic has been a particular focus of Dr. Patrick’s most recent work, while providing leadership to BCCDC’s researchers. His ongoing focus is the broad effort to contain antimicrobial resistance in Canada and around the world. Dr. Patrick is particularly interested in understanding the drivers of antibiotic utilization in the community, intervening to reduce unnecessary use, and understanding the connection between antibiotic use and asthma in populations.
Dr. Wendy Pons
Professor at Conestoga College; Adjunct Professor at York University
Dr. Pons is a full-time professor at Conestoga College in the Bachelor of Environmental Public Health program in Ontario. Much of her research has been related to small drinking water systems, risk assessment, vector-borne disease, climate change and food safety and focuses on the application of research into health professional practice. Dr. Pons has 15 years of experience in a local health department in Ontario overseeing programs in vector-borne disease, food safety and health hazards. She holds a Ph.D. in epidemiology, a master’s degree in environmental science and management, and is a certified public health inspector.