SARS Initiative
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) hit several countries, including Canada, in late 2002 and early 2003. By late March 2003, the disease was spreading in Toronto and time was of the essence in developing a research strategy to complement other public health actions taken to address the disease outbreak. To develop a cohesive research program, the
CIHR and its Institute of Infection and Immunity played a leadership role in establishing the Canadian SARS Research Consortium (
CSRC) in June 2003. Composed of individuals from the scientific, medical and business communities and from funding bodies and public health agencies, the
CSRC identified gaps and coordinated the SARS research effort.
