Alimodi and Giesbrecht returned to Kelowna, where for the next few years they operated a clinic as registered massage therapists. However, when her mother died prematurely of cancer, Alimonti reportedly wanted to make a contribution to society that would make a significant difference in people’s lives. While still engaged as a massage therapist, Alimonti took some science classes. She then enrolled as a mature full-time student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, earning a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology in 1991. She studied immunology at the University of Manitoba and in 1998 completed a thesis now held by Library and Archives Canada. Alimonti completed her PhD in microbiology at the University of British Columbia.
Cancer and HIV/AIDS research
Alimontis’ PhD thesis, “Using the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) to enhance the immune response to cancers and viruses” became the basis for an article published in 2000 in the journal Nature Biotechnology. Data from the article was then used in research into a potential breast cancer vaccine. (See also Breast Cancer Research in Canada.) After graduating, Alimonti worked in Winnipeg as a cancer researcher for CancerCare Manitoba, a provincial agency. He also studied HIV/AIDS with the University of Manitoba School of Medicine (now known as the College of Medicine).
Ebola Virus Disease — Background
Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever and generally called Ebola, affects primates, including humans, and other animals (see Virus). Ebola is highly contagious and is spread through contact with bodily fluids. It is fatal, on average, in about 50% of those infected. The first case of the Ebola virus was identified in 1976 in the Ebola River area in what is now the Democratic Republic of Condo. Epidemics with high mortality rates continued sporadically for several decades. In 1999, Canada’s new National Microbiological Laboratory (NML) — part of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) — in Winnipeg began studying the virus and its severity under strict high-level containment conditions. But, as Dr. Francis Plummer of PHAC and Dr. Steven M. Jones in Canadian Medical Association Journal (2017), “It took several years to convince funding agencies of the value of spending the National Microbiology Laboratory’s limited resources on Ebola. vaccine research for other pressing public health issues in Canada’. Because of this lack of funding and the fact that lead researchers at NML were leaving for positions at other research facilities, the Ebola project was in danger of being shelved. (See also Medical Research.)
Dr. Alimonti and the Ebola vaccine
Judie Alimonti started working for PHAC as a contract scientist in 2005. She volunteered to take over the Ebola file and between 2010 and 2015 was the Ebola vaccine project leader. Alimonti focused on developing a vaccine that would be of high enough quality to be GMP (good manufacturing practice) rated. The work was arduous and tiring, but she was dedicated to the cause. Because she worked from contract to contract, her position was always precarious, but she was dedicated to the project and even turned down an offer for full-time work because it was not consistent with the level of work she was doing.
Skunk Works mode
While working on the Ebola vaccine, Judie Alimonti created what is popularly known as Skunk Works—an innovative process that involves a small team of people working outside the normal research and development channels of an organization. He was involved in every decision about the project. Among various tasks, Alimonti developed tests to show that materials sent to a vaccine manufacturer did not contain microorganisms that could inadvertently contaminate the product. She would later run tests to ensure that the vaccines sent back to her from the manufacturer were free of pathogens. In a 2020 article from STAT, Dr. Frank Plummer, NML’s scientific director from 2000 to 2014, described Alimonti as “a very thorough, methodical scientist.” In the same article, Dr. Gary Kobinger, head of the special pathogens unit at NML, said that if it weren’t for the dedication of Alimonti, who said she “put her whole heart into it” and would work late nights and weekends, the Ebola vaccine would probably never have been tested and licensed.
Ebola outbreaks
In 2014, an Ebola epidemic broke out in West Africa. The virus would cause 11,325 deaths by the end of 2016. In response to the outbreak, Canada donated vials of the Ebola vaccine Alimonti was developing to the World Health Organization (WHO). Before the donated vaccine could be used, it had to pass clinical trials. (See also Epidemiology.) The vaccine was found to be effective during clinical trials, and a vaccination campaign resulted in saving thousands of lives. Alimonti organized the global distribution of the vaccine to partners during clinical trials. When another Ebola outbreak occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2018, the vaccine was approved for use in that country and more than 260,000 people were vaccinated. In 2019, the vaccine was approved for use in Europe and the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Later career and death
After her work on the Ebola vaccine, Judie Alimonti was hired in 2015 by the National Research Council of Canada’s Human Health Therapeutics (HHT) Research Center in Ottawa. She conducted research on a vaccine for the Zika virus, and although she and her colleagues made progress on this project, she was unable to continue due to illness. After Alimonti’s death from cancer, Alan Giesbrecht stated in a 2018 article from the Ottawa Citizen that, “My wife put her heart and soul into it (the Ebola vaccine) and worked day and night with the higher global standards. He could have used more support.”
title: “Judy Alimonti The Canadian Encyclopedia Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-28” author: “Robert Coleman”
Alimodi and Giesbrecht returned to Kelowna, where for the next few years they operated a clinic as registered massage therapists. However, when her mother died prematurely of cancer, Alimonti reportedly wanted to make a contribution to society that would make a significant difference in people’s lives. While still engaged as a massage therapist, Alimonti took some science classes. She then enrolled as a mature full-time student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, earning a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology in 1991. She studied immunology at the University of Manitoba and in 1998 completed a thesis now held by Library and Archives Canada. Alimonti completed her PhD in microbiology at the University of British Columbia.
Cancer and HIV/AIDS research
Alimontis’ PhD thesis, “Using the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) to enhance the immune response to cancers and viruses” became the basis for an article published in 2000 in the journal Nature Biotechnology. Data from the article was then used in research into a potential breast cancer vaccine. (See also Breast Cancer Research in Canada.) After graduating, Alimonti worked in Winnipeg as a cancer researcher for CancerCare Manitoba, a provincial agency. He also studied HIV/AIDS with the University of Manitoba School of Medicine (now known as the College of Medicine).
Ebola Virus Disease — Background
Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever and generally called Ebola, affects primates, including humans, and other animals (see Virus). Ebola is highly contagious and is spread through contact with bodily fluids. It is fatal, on average, in about 50% of those infected. The first case of the Ebola virus was identified in 1976 in the Ebola River area in what is now the Democratic Republic of Condo. Epidemics with high mortality rates continued sporadically for several decades. In 1999, Canada’s new National Microbiological Laboratory (NML) — part of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) — in Winnipeg began studying the virus and its severity under strict high-level containment conditions. But, as Dr. Francis Plummer of PHAC and Dr. Steven M. Jones in Canadian Medical Association Journal (2017), “It took several years to convince funding agencies of the value of spending the National Microbiology Laboratory’s limited resources on Ebola. vaccine research for other pressing public health issues in Canada’. Because of this lack of funding and the fact that lead researchers at NML were leaving for positions at other research facilities, the Ebola project was in danger of being shelved. (See also Medical Research.)
Dr. Alimonti and the Ebola vaccine
Judie Alimonti started working for PHAC as a contract scientist in 2005. She volunteered to take over the Ebola file and between 2010 and 2015 was the Ebola vaccine project leader. Alimonti focused on developing a vaccine that would be of high enough quality to be GMP (good manufacturing practice) rated. The work was arduous and tiring, but she was dedicated to the cause. Because she worked from contract to contract, her position was always precarious, but she was dedicated to the project and even turned down an offer for full-time work because it was not consistent with the level of work she was doing.
Skunk Works mode
While working on the Ebola vaccine, Judie Alimonti created what is popularly known as Skunk Works—an innovative process that involves a small team of people working outside the normal research and development channels of an organization. He was involved in every decision about the project. Among various tasks, Alimonti developed tests to show that materials sent to a vaccine manufacturer did not contain microorganisms that could inadvertently contaminate the product. She would later run tests to ensure that the vaccines sent back to her from the manufacturer were free of pathogens. In a 2020 article from STAT, Dr. Frank Plummer, NML’s scientific director from 2000 to 2014, described Alimonti as “a very thorough, methodical scientist.” In the same article, Dr. Gary Kobinger, head of the special pathogens unit at NML, said that if it weren’t for the dedication of Alimonti, who said she “put her whole heart into it” and would work late nights and weekends, the Ebola vaccine would probably never have been tested and licensed.
Ebola outbreaks
In 2014, an Ebola epidemic broke out in West Africa. The virus would cause 11,325 deaths by the end of 2016. In response to the outbreak, Canada donated vials of the Ebola vaccine Alimonti was developing to the World Health Organization (WHO). Before the donated vaccine could be used, it had to pass clinical trials. (See also Epidemiology.) The vaccine was found to be effective during clinical trials, and a vaccination campaign resulted in saving thousands of lives. Alimonti organized the global distribution of the vaccine to partners during clinical trials. When another Ebola outbreak occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2018, the vaccine was approved for use in that country and more than 260,000 people were vaccinated. In 2019, the vaccine was approved for use in Europe and the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Later career and death
After her work on the Ebola vaccine, Judie Alimonti was hired in 2015 by the National Research Council of Canada’s Human Health Therapeutics (HHT) Research Center in Ottawa. She conducted research on a vaccine for the Zika virus, and although she and her colleagues made progress on this project, she was unable to continue due to illness. After Alimonti’s death from cancer, Alan Giesbrecht stated in a 2018 article from the Ottawa Citizen that, “My wife put her heart and soul into it (the Ebola vaccine) and worked day and night with the higher global standards. He could have used more support.”
title: “Judy Alimonti The Canadian Encyclopedia Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-26” author: “Betty Robel”
Alimodi and Giesbrecht returned to Kelowna, where for the next few years they operated a clinic as registered massage therapists. However, when her mother died prematurely of cancer, Alimonti reportedly wanted to make a contribution to society that would make a significant difference in people’s lives. While still engaged as a massage therapist, Alimonti took some science classes. She then enrolled as a mature full-time student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, earning a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology in 1991. She studied immunology at the University of Manitoba and in 1998 completed a thesis now held by Library and Archives Canada. Alimonti completed her PhD in microbiology at the University of British Columbia.
Cancer and HIV/AIDS research
Alimontis’ PhD thesis, “Using the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) to enhance the immune response to cancers and viruses” became the basis for an article published in 2000 in the journal Nature Biotechnology. Data from the article was then used in research into a potential breast cancer vaccine. (See also Breast Cancer Research in Canada.) After graduating, Alimonti worked in Winnipeg as a cancer researcher for CancerCare Manitoba, a provincial agency. He also studied HIV/AIDS with the University of Manitoba School of Medicine (now known as the College of Medicine).
Ebola Virus Disease — Background
Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever and generally called Ebola, affects primates, including humans, and other animals (see Virus). Ebola is highly contagious and is spread through contact with bodily fluids. It is fatal, on average, in about 50% of those infected. The first case of the Ebola virus was identified in 1976 in the Ebola River area in what is now the Democratic Republic of Condo. Epidemics with high mortality rates continued sporadically for several decades. In 1999, Canada’s new National Microbiological Laboratory (NML) — part of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) — in Winnipeg began studying the virus and its severity under strict high-level containment conditions. But, as Dr. Francis Plummer of PHAC and Dr. Steven M. Jones in Canadian Medical Association Journal (2017), “It took several years to convince funding agencies of the value of spending the National Microbiology Laboratory’s limited resources on Ebola. vaccine research for other pressing public health issues in Canada’. Because of this lack of funding and the fact that lead researchers at NML were leaving for positions at other research facilities, the Ebola project was in danger of being shelved. (See also Medical Research.)
Dr. Alimonti and the Ebola vaccine
Judie Alimonti started working for PHAC as a contract scientist in 2005. She volunteered to take over the Ebola file and between 2010 and 2015 was the Ebola vaccine project leader. Alimonti focused on developing a vaccine that would be of high enough quality to be GMP (good manufacturing practice) rated. The work was arduous and tiring, but she was dedicated to the cause. Because she worked from contract to contract, her position was always precarious, but she was dedicated to the project and even turned down an offer for full-time work because it was not consistent with the level of work she was doing.
Skunk Works mode
While working on the Ebola vaccine, Judie Alimonti created what is popularly known as Skunk Works—an innovative process that involves a small team of people working outside the normal research and development channels of an organization. He was involved in every decision about the project. Among various tasks, Alimonti developed tests to show that materials sent to a vaccine manufacturer did not contain microorganisms that could inadvertently contaminate the product. She would later run tests to ensure that the vaccines sent back to her from the manufacturer were free of pathogens. In a 2020 article from STAT, Dr. Frank Plummer, NML’s scientific director from 2000 to 2014, described Alimonti as “a very thorough, methodical scientist.” In the same article, Dr. Gary Kobinger, head of the special pathogens unit at NML, said that if it weren’t for the dedication of Alimonti, who said she “put her whole heart into it” and would work late nights and weekends, the Ebola vaccine would probably never have been tested and licensed.
Ebola outbreaks
In 2014, an Ebola epidemic broke out in West Africa. The virus would cause 11,325 deaths by the end of 2016. In response to the outbreak, Canada donated vials of the Ebola vaccine Alimonti was developing to the World Health Organization (WHO). Before the donated vaccine could be used, it had to pass clinical trials. (See also Epidemiology.) The vaccine was found to be effective during clinical trials, and a vaccination campaign resulted in saving thousands of lives. Alimonti organized the global distribution of the vaccine to partners during clinical trials. When another Ebola outbreak occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2018, the vaccine was approved for use in that country and more than 260,000 people were vaccinated. In 2019, the vaccine was approved for use in Europe and the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Later career and death
After her work on the Ebola vaccine, Judie Alimonti was hired in 2015 by the National Research Council of Canada’s Human Health Therapeutics (HHT) Research Center in Ottawa. She conducted research on a vaccine for the Zika virus, and although she and her colleagues made progress on this project, she was unable to continue due to illness. After Alimonti’s death from cancer, Alan Giesbrecht stated in a 2018 article from the Ottawa Citizen that, “My wife put her heart and soul into it (the Ebola vaccine) and worked day and night with the higher global standards. He could have used more support.”
title: “Judy Alimonti The Canadian Encyclopedia Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-30” author: “Barbara Bullock”
Alimodi and Giesbrecht returned to Kelowna, where for the next few years they operated a clinic as registered massage therapists. However, when her mother died prematurely of cancer, Alimonti reportedly wanted to make a contribution to society that would make a significant difference in people’s lives. While still engaged as a massage therapist, Alimonti took some science classes. She then enrolled as a mature full-time student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, earning a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology in 1991. She studied immunology at the University of Manitoba and in 1998 completed a thesis now held by Library and Archives Canada. Alimonti completed her PhD in microbiology at the University of British Columbia.
Cancer and HIV/AIDS research
Alimontis’ PhD thesis, “Using the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) to enhance the immune response to cancers and viruses” became the basis for an article published in 2000 in the journal Nature Biotechnology. Data from the article was then used in research into a potential breast cancer vaccine. (See also Breast Cancer Research in Canada.) After graduating, Alimonti worked in Winnipeg as a cancer researcher for CancerCare Manitoba, a provincial agency. He also studied HIV/AIDS with the University of Manitoba School of Medicine (now known as the College of Medicine).
Ebola Virus Disease — Background
Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever and generally called Ebola, affects primates, including humans, and other animals (see Virus). Ebola is highly contagious and is spread through contact with bodily fluids. It is fatal, on average, in about 50% of those infected. The first case of the Ebola virus was identified in 1976 in the Ebola River area in what is now the Democratic Republic of Condo. Epidemics with high mortality rates continued sporadically for several decades. In 1999, Canada’s new National Microbiological Laboratory (NML) — part of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) — in Winnipeg began studying the virus and its severity under strict high-level containment conditions. But, as Dr. Francis Plummer of PHAC and Dr. Steven M. Jones in Canadian Medical Association Journal (2017), “It took several years to convince funding agencies of the value of spending the National Microbiology Laboratory’s limited resources on Ebola. vaccine research for other pressing public health issues in Canada’. Because of this lack of funding and the fact that lead researchers at NML were leaving for positions at other research facilities, the Ebola project was in danger of being shelved. (See also Medical Research.)
Dr. Alimonti and the Ebola vaccine
Judie Alimonti started working for PHAC as a contract scientist in 2005. She volunteered to take over the Ebola file and between 2010 and 2015 was the Ebola vaccine project leader. Alimonti focused on developing a vaccine that would be of high enough quality to be GMP (good manufacturing practice) rated. The work was arduous and tiring, but she was dedicated to the cause. Because she worked from contract to contract, her position was always precarious, but she was dedicated to the project and even turned down an offer for full-time work because it was not consistent with the level of work she was doing.
Skunk Works mode
While working on the Ebola vaccine, Judie Alimonti created what is popularly known as Skunk Works—an innovative process that involves a small team of people working outside the normal research and development channels of an organization. He was involved in every decision about the project. Among various tasks, Alimonti developed tests to show that materials sent to a vaccine manufacturer did not contain microorganisms that could inadvertently contaminate the product. She would later run tests to ensure that the vaccines sent back to her from the manufacturer were free of pathogens. In a 2020 article from STAT, Dr. Frank Plummer, NML’s scientific director from 2000 to 2014, described Alimonti as “a very thorough, methodical scientist.” In the same article, Dr. Gary Kobinger, head of the special pathogens unit at NML, said that if it weren’t for the dedication of Alimonti, who said she “put her whole heart into it” and would work late nights and weekends, the Ebola vaccine would probably never have been tested and licensed.
Ebola outbreaks
In 2014, an Ebola epidemic broke out in West Africa. The virus would cause 11,325 deaths by the end of 2016. In response to the outbreak, Canada donated vials of the Ebola vaccine Alimonti was developing to the World Health Organization (WHO). Before the donated vaccine could be used, it had to pass clinical trials. (See also Epidemiology.) The vaccine was found to be effective during clinical trials, and a vaccination campaign resulted in saving thousands of lives. Alimonti organized the global distribution of the vaccine to partners during clinical trials. When another Ebola outbreak occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2018, the vaccine was approved for use in that country and more than 260,000 people were vaccinated. In 2019, the vaccine was approved for use in Europe and the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Later career and death
After her work on the Ebola vaccine, Judie Alimonti was hired in 2015 by the National Research Council of Canada’s Human Health Therapeutics (HHT) Research Center in Ottawa. She conducted research on a vaccine for the Zika virus, and although she and her colleagues made progress on this project, she was unable to continue due to illness. After Alimonti’s death from cancer, Alan Giesbrecht stated in a 2018 article from the Ottawa Citizen that, “My wife put her heart and soul into it (the Ebola vaccine) and worked day and night with the higher global standards. He could have used more support.”
