Series: Q & A with Your CVFP Health Team
Get to know your CVFP Health Team – they are making a positive impact on the health of our
community and beyond.
CVFP Health Team Profiles
In this feature, we talk with Joenel Alcantara - a first year Family Medicine resident at CVFP.
Joenel Alcantara has lived in Calgary since elementary school and attended both university and medical school in Calgary. He is married with two teenage sons and loves to spend weekends outdoors with his family, especially hiking in the mountains. Before medical school, Joenel completed a PhD in plant molecular biology in which he modified plants to produce vaccines in their seeds. His post-doctoral training involved understanding morphine production in the opium poppy and working in a plant biotechnology company producing insulin in safflower seeds. Joenel has an Adjunct Assistant Professor appointment at UCalgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, which allows him to maintain an active research program at the University.
Tell us about the exciting research you are doing that combines the fields of immunology/infectious diseases and plant biotechnology.
Joenel: My research involves developing and evaluating vaccines. We do a couple of specialized tests that measure how effective human vaccines are against bacterial meningitis and pneumococcal disease. We also develop new vaccines, one of which is a new COVID-19 vaccine. Our idea is to allow the plant to produce a vaccine in their seeds which allows for transport and storage without refrigeration. It is our hope that local communities would be able to extract the vaccine from the seeds and formulate it into a vaccine that can be used in their community. Our primary goal is to produce inexpensive, accessible and transportable vaccines for use worldwide. Our second goal is to educate the research and general community regarding the effectiveness and safety of vaccines in general.
Why is this research important for patients and our health community?
Joenel: It’s important for patients to have access to experts and the best scientific information and medical care to make informed decisions about vaccination. Vaccines are the second most effective public health intervention in human history after clean water. In addition, we are trying to develop an inexpensive vaccine that can be transported without refrigeration and made available to communities worldwide.
What is the biggest challenge you have had to overcome as a Scientist?
Joenel: My biggest challenge has been deciding on a research focus. I was fortunate to be exposed to a broad range of research topics during my training. I eventually realized that I could combine my interests into the area of vaccine research. In the end, it is all about doing research that excites you, has a positive impact on people’s lives, and sharing our results with everyone.
And finally, does your experience as a CVFP Resident impact your research?
Joenel: Absolutely! Working at CVFP reminds me every day that my vaccine research really matters to people. Patients need objective data to make informed decisions, and it reminds me of the importance of having easily accessible vaccines without any barriers.