Short Bio

Dr. Agatha Jassem, PhD, (D)ABMM, FCCM (UBC Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Clinical Assistant Professor; Head, Virology/Molecular Diagnostics Lab, BCCDC PHL) is an accredited Clinical Virologist. She oversees diagnostic services and has extensive expertise in developing and implementing molecular- and serological-based tests for several organisms, including respiratory pathogens and those causing sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections. She is the BC Lab Lead for the Canadian Sentinel Practitioner Surveillance Network, which is monitoring SARS-CoV-2 and influenza vaccine effectiveness. During COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Jassem secured funding to characterize the immune response after infection and vaccination, which involved validation and operationalization of novel multiplex serology, neutralization, and infectivity methods to support cohort-based studies across BC. Her current focus couple’s viral genomics and immune correlates of protection to understand the impacts of SARS-CoV-2 evolution under vaccine pressure. Other research led by Dr. Jassem includes utilization of novel phage immunoprecipitation sequencing technologies to link viral exposures to chronic illness and the validation and implementation of dried blood spot samples for diagnosis of HCV and HIV in hard to reach populations. She is the Vice President of the Canadian Association for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (President-elect for 2022) and President of the British Columbia Association of Clinical Scientists.