Career Research Award
Established in 2009, the Career Research Award is a biennial award that recognizes the longstanding career of an outstanding and accomplished researcher working on an aspect of paediatric research in Canada.
The award is presented during the CPS Annual Conference. The recipient is awarded a commemorative plaque and a $1,000 prize and complimentary CPS membership for 1 year.
Awarded every other year, the next award will be presented in 2026.
Current recipient(s): Dr. Scott Halperin
Dr. Scott Halperin is being recognized with the Career Research Award for his vaccine-related research, surveillance, and relationship-building in support of public health over many years. His many outstanding achievements compass laboratory immunology, clinical trials, population-based surveillance, and implementation science, but his leadership in developing and nurturing collaborative surveillance and research networks is second to none and has helped define vaccine policymaking and implementation both in Canada and internationally.
Dr. Halperin is professor of paediatrics, microbiology, and immunology at Dalhousie and an ID paediatrician at IWK Health Centre in Halifax. He is also founding director of the Canadian Center for Vaccinology (CCfV) and co-founded the Canadian Association for Immunization Research and Evaluation (CAIRE), a national network of multidisciplinary researchers. In every network environment Dr. Halperin has created and led, he encourages, supports, and mentors faculty and trainees to research and realize the potential of vaccines to benefit human health. He was co-principal investigator for the joint CPS/PHAC surveillance network Immunization Monitoring Program–ACTive (IMPACT) and is now principal investigator of inpatient CHIM (controlled human infection model) trials for pertussis and influenza. He is a recognized world expert on pertussis, and his work over a lifetime has reduced the burden of this disease here and elsewhere. He is a prolific and generous scholar, and his social science work includes studies of public health policy and implementation, the cultural dimensions of COVID-19, and attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours pertaining to vaccines.
Nominations
Nominees should be actively engaged in research and be a MD and/or a PhD. The recipient should be a Canadian resident, hold an appointment at a Canadian university, hospital or research institute and have conducted the majority of their career research in Canada.
The candidates must:
- Have national and international recognition evidenced by the number of publications, the quality of journals in which work is published, participation in national and international scientific symposia/meetings, academic visits, involvement in grant review panels and other related activities.
- Have had significant influence on others to develop research careers.
- Have created novel collaborative relationships nationally and/or internationally that enhance the body of research knowledge.
The Awards Committee will judge candidates based on:
- Meeting the eligibility requirements above.
- The length of their career and the impacts of their research as listed above.
- The influence of their research on others.
- The quality of the information and the details in the nomination letters. The letters are a critical component of the evaluation process and should clearly demonstrate how the candidate meets the criteria.
Submissions
Submissions must include:
- Letters of support from the nominator and seconder, both of which are CPS members, describing how the nominee meets the above criteria. One of these letters must be from outside the candidate’s institution. Please note that the committee relies heavily on the nomination letter to make their decision.
- Updated, condensed curriculum vitae for the candidate. Maximum 20 pages.
Submit your nominations using the Submit Nomination button.
Sponsored by the Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto.
Past recipients
Dr. Stuart Turvey
Dr. Patricia Parkin
Dr. David Johnson
Dr. Grant Mitchell
Dr. Alex MacKenzie
Dr. Francine Ducharme
Drs. Peter and Carol Camfield
Dr. Jan Gorter
Last updated: May 8, 2026