Danuta Skowronski

Dr. Danuta Skowronski serves as the epidemiology lead for influenza and emerging respiratory pathogens at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and holds the position of Clinical Professor in the University of British Columbia School of Population & Public Health. She has established herself as a leading expert in influenza epidemiology and vaccine effectiveness monitoring in Canada.

Dr. Skowronski pioneered the test-negative design (TND), an innovative epidemiological method for monitoring annual influenza vaccine effectiveness that was recognized by Accreditation Canada in 2015 as an Innovative Leading Practice. As principal investigator of the Canadian Sentinel Practitioner Surveillance Network (SPSN) for Influenza Virus and Vaccine Effectiveness Monitoring, she has significantly contributed to Canada's national influenza program by providing real-time vaccine effectiveness findings to inform public health measures.

Her research has advanced the field through incorporating detailed genetic characterization of circulating influenza viruses to improve understanding of vaccine effectiveness. Her work examines an agent-host perspective to understand variation in vaccine performance, including genomic analysis of viruses, egg-based manufacturing mutations, birth cohort effects, and interactions between seasonal and pandemic viruses. Twice annually, the vaccine effectiveness estimates from her SPSN are used by the World Health Organization to inform global vaccine strain selection.

Dr. Skowronski has played critical roles in responding to major public health events including SARS, avian influenza outbreaks, the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, and enterovirus D68. Her notable awards include:

• Excellence award from BC Provincial Health Officer
• Quality of life award from BC Pharmacy Association
• Woman of Distinction for Hycroft Lecture
• UBC President's Award for Public Education through Media (2007)
• James M. Robinson Award (2011)
• PHSA+ award (2015)

Dr. Skowronski completed her medical degree and family medicine training at Queen's University, followed by a master's of health sciences degree and fellowship in community medicine at UBC. She is certified with the American Board of Preventive Medicine and completed additional specialized training with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.