Bahaa Abu-Raya

Dr. Bahaa Abu-Raya is a pediatric infectious disease physician-scientist at the University of British Columbia. His research during the past decade has mainly been in the field of maternal pertussis immunization. The studies he led contributed to immunization policies in several countries, specifically the recommendation that pregnant women need to be immunized with pertussis vaccine in each pregnancy and the ideal timing of pertussis immunization in pregnancy.

In addition, Bahaa has investigated the effect of maternal immunization on infants’ immune response to their own vaccines and has developed assays to test the function of pertussis antibodies. Due to his contribution to science, health and the community, Bahaa was awarded the most prestigious Vanier Canada Scholarship to support his research. In recognition of his contribution to the field of maternal immunization, Bahaa received the medal for the most prestigious contribution to pediatric infectious diseases field granted during the 2019 ESPID meeting. He has also been invited to lead consensus papers, to write textbook chapters and commentaries in the field of maternal immunization.