Dr. Christina M Bancej

Influenza and emerging respiratory infection epidemiology, surveillance and response. Oversight and stewardship of Canada's national influenza surveillance program "FluWatch" and other respiratory pathogens surveillance initiatives (MERS-CoV, novel influenzas, respiratory syncytial virus and others).
Education and awards
PhD, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University
MSc, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University
BSc (Hons), Physics and Biology, York University
CIHR Doctoral Research Award
NSERC PGS-A Graduate Research Award
Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales Award for HIV/AIDS Research
NSERC Undergraduate Research Award
International experience and/or work
UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), Guinea, 2015
WHO Global RSV surveillance pilot, 2016-2018
PAHO Severe Acute Respiratory Infections Network in the Americas (SARInet), 2016-2018
Key publications
1: Schanzer DL, Saboui M, Lee L, Nwosu A, Bancej C. Burden of influenza,
respiratory syncytial virus, and other respiratory viruses and the completeness
of respiratory viral identification among respiratory inpatients, Canada,
2003-2014. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2018 Jan;12(1):113-121. doi:
10.1111/irv.12497. Epub 2017 Dec 15. PubMed PMID: 29243369; PubMed Central PMCID:
PMC5818333.
2: Amankwah N, Marrie RA, Bancej C, Garner R, Manuel DG, Wall R, Finès P, Bernier
J, Tu K, Reimer K. Multiple sclerosis in Canada 2011 to 2031: results of a
microsimulation modelling study of epidemiological and economic impacts. Health
Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2017 Feb;37(2):37-48. English, French. PubMed PMID:
28273039; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5607528.
3: Nour S, Labonté R, Bancej C. Impact of the 2008 global financial crisis on the
health of Canadians: repeated cross-sectional analysis of the Canadian Community
Health Survey, 2007-2013. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2017 Apr;71(4):336-343.
doi: 10.1136/jech-2016-207661. Epub 2016 Nov 9. PubMed PMID: 27831480.
4: Manuel DG, Garner R, Finès P, Bancej C, Flanagan W, Tu K, Reimer K, Chambers
LW, Bernier J. Alzheimer's and other dementias in Canada, 2011 to 2031: a
microsimulation Population Health Modeling (POHEM) study of projected prevalence,
health burden, health services, and caregiving use. Popul Health Metr. 2016 Nov
3;14:37. eCollection 2016. PubMed PMID: 27822143; PubMed Central PMCID:
PMC5095994.
5: Finès P, Garner R, Bancej C, Bernier J, Manuel DG. Development and
implementation of microsimulation models of neurological conditions. Health Rep.
2016 Mar 16;27(3):3-9. PubMed PMID: 26983006.
6: Shi Y, de Groh M, Bancej C. Socioeconomic gradients in cardiovascular risk in
Canadian children and adolescents. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2016
Feb;36(2):21-31. English, French. PubMed PMID: 26878491; PubMed Central PMCID:
PMC4910426.
7: Bancej C, Jayabalasingham B, Wall RW, Rao DP, Do MT, de Groh M, Jayaraman GC.
Evidence Brief--Trends and projections of obesity among Canadians. Health Promot
Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2015 Sep;35(7):109-12. English, French. PubMed PMID:
26378769; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4910458.
8: Robitaille C, Bancej C, Dai S, Tu K, Rasali D, Blais C, Plante C, Smith M,
Svenson LW, Reimer K, Casey J, Puchtinger R, Johansen H, Gurevich Y, Waters C,
Lix LM, Quan H. Surveillance of ischemic heart disease should include physician
billing claims: population-based evidence from administrative health data across
seven Canadian provinces. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2013 Oct 20;13:88. doi:
10.1186/1471-2261-13-88. PubMed PMID: 24138129; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3871006.
9: Bienek AS, Gee ME, Nolan RP, Kaczorowski J, Campbell NR, Bancej C,
Gwadry-Sridhar F, Robitaille C, Walker RL, Dai S. Methodology of the 2009 Survey
on Living with Chronic Diseases in Canada--hypertension component. Chronic Dis
Inj Can. 2013 Sep;33(4):267-76. English, French. PubMed PMID: 23987223.
10: Jean S, O'Donnell S, Lagacé C, Walsh P, Bancej C, Brown JP, Morin S,
Papaioannou A, Jaglal SB, Leslie WD; Osteoporosis Surveillance Expert Working
Group. Trends in hip fracture rates in Canada: an age-period-cohort analysis. J
Bone Miner Res. 2013 Jun;28(6):1283-9. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.1863. PubMed PMID:
23426882; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5096929.
11: LeMessurier J, O'Donnell S, Walsh P, McRae L, Bancej C; Osteoporosis
Surveillance Expert Working Group. The development of national indicators for the
surveillance of osteoporosis in Canada. Chronic Dis Inj Can. 2012
Mar;32(2):101-7. PubMed PMID: 22414307; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5104541.
12: Gee ME, Janssen I, Pickett W, McAlister FA, Bancej CM, Joffres M, Johansen H,
Campbell NR. Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among
Canadian adults with diabetes, 2007 to 2009. Can J Cardiol. 2012
May;28(3):367-74. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2011.08.111. Epub 2012 Jan 26. PubMed PMID:
22281410.
13: Gee ME, Bienek A, Campbell NR, Bancej CM, Robitaille C, Kaczorowski J,
Joffres M, Dai S, Gwadry-Sridar F, Nolan RP. Prevalence of, and barriers to,
preventive lifestyle behaviors in hypertension (from a national survey of
Canadians with hypertension). Am J Cardiol. 2012 Feb 15;109(4):570-5. doi:
10.1016/j.amjcard.2011.09.051. Epub 2011 Dec 10. PubMed PMID: 22154320.
14: Robitaille C, Dai S, Waters C, Loukine L, Bancej C, Quach S, Ellison J,
Campbell N, Tu K, Reimer K, Walker R, Smith M, Blais C, Quan H. Diagnosed
hypertension in Canada: incidence, prevalence and associated mortality. CMAJ.
2012 Jan 10;184(1):E49-56. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.101863. Epub 2011 Nov 21. PubMed
PMID: 22105752; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3255225.
15: Dai S, Walsh P, Wielgosz A, Gurevich Y, Bancej C, Morrison H. Comorbidities
and mortality associated with hospitalized heart failure in Canada. Can J
Cardiol. 2012 Jan-Feb;28(1):74-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2011.05.002. Epub 2011 Aug
31. PubMed PMID: 21885240.
16: O'Donnell S, Lagacé C, McRae L, Bancej C. Life with arthritis in Canada: a
personal and public health challenge. Chronic Dis Inj Can. 2011 Jun;31(3):135-6.
PubMed PMID: 21733351.
17: Walker RL, Gee ME, Bancej C, Nolan RP, Kaczorowski J, Joffres M, Bienek A,
Gwadry-Sridhar F, Campbell NR. Health behaviour advice from health professionals
to Canadian adults with hypertension: results from a national survey. Can J
Cardiol. 2011 Jul-Aug;27(4):446-54. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2011.03.013. English,
French. PubMed PMID: 21684718.
18: Gee ME, Campbell NR, Bancej CM, Robitaille C, Bienek A, Joffres MR, Walker
RL, Kaczorowski J, Dai S. Perception of uncontrolled blood pressure and
behaviours to improve blood pressure: findings from the 2009 Survey on Living
with Chronic Diseases in Canada. J Hum Hypertens. 2012 Mar;26(3):188-95. doi:
10.1038/jhh.2011.5. Epub 2011 Feb 3. PubMed PMID: 21289646.
19: Dai S, Robitaille C, Bancej C, Loukine L, Waters C, Baclic O. Executive
summary--report from the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System:
hypertension in Canada, 2010. Chronic Dis Can. 2010 Dec;31(1):46-7. PubMed PMID:
21176415.
20: Bancej CM, Campbell N, McKay DW, Nichol M, Walker RL, Kaczorowski J. Home
blood pressure monitoring among Canadian adults with hypertension: results from
the 2009 Survey on Living with Chronic Diseases in Canada. Can J Cardiol. 2010
May;26(5):e152-7. PubMed PMID: 20485694; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2886560.
21: DiFranza J, Ursprung WW, Lauzon B, Bancej C, Wellman RJ, Ziedonis D, Kim SS,
Gervais A, Meltzer B, McKay CE, O'Loughlin J, Okoli CT, Fortuna LR, Tremblay M. A
systematic review of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual diagnostic criteria
for nicotine dependence. Addict Behav. 2010 May;35(5):373-82. doi:
10.1016/j.addbeh.2009.12.013. Epub 2009 Dec 21. Review. PubMed PMID: 20056335.
22: Leslie WD, O'Donnell S, Lagacé C, Walsh P, Bancej C, Jean S, Siminoski K,
Kaiser S, Kendler DL, Jaglal S; Osteoporosis Surveillance Expert Working Group.
Population-based Canadian hip fracture rates with international comparisons.
Osteoporos Int. 2010 Aug;21(8):1317-22. doi: 10.1007/s00198-009-1080-1. Epub 2009
Oct 3. PubMed PMID: 19802507; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5101056.
23: Leslie WD, O'Donnell S, Jean S, Lagacé C, Walsh P, Bancej C, Morin S, Hanley
DA, Papaioannou A; Osteoporosis Surveillance Expert Working Group. Trends in hip
fracture rates in Canada. JAMA. 2009 Aug 26;302(8):883-9. doi:
10.1001/jama.2009.1231. PubMed PMID: 19706862.
24: Bancej C, O'Loughlin J, Platt RW, Paradis G, Gervais A. Smoking cessation
attempts among adolescent smokers: a systematic review of prevalence studies. Tob
Control. 2007 Dec;16(6):e8. Review. PubMed PMID: 18048598; PubMed Central PMCID:
PMC2807205.
25: Gervais A, O'Loughlin J, Meshefedjian G, Bancej C, Tremblay M. Milestones in
the natural course of onset of cigarette use among adolescents. CMAJ. 2006 Aug
1;175(3):255-61. PubMed PMID: 16880445; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC1513423.
26: Maxwell CJ, Onysko J, Bancej CM, Nichol M, Rakowski W. The distribution and
predictive validity of the stages of change for mammography adoption among
Canadian women. Prev Med. 2006 Sep;43(3):171-7. Epub 2006 Jun 15. PubMed PMID:
16780938.
27: Bancej CM, Maxwell CJ, Onysko J, Eliasziw M. Mammography utilization in
Canadian women aged 50 to 69: identification of factors that predict initiation
and adherence. Can J Public Health. 2005 Sep-Oct;96(5):364-8. PubMed PMID:
16238156.
28: Jelinski SE, Maxwell CJ, Onysko J, Bancej CM. The influence of breast
self-examination on subsequent mammography participation. Am J Public Health.
2005 Mar;95(3):506-11. PubMed PMID: 15727985; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC1449210.
29: Stuart G, Taylor G, Bancej CM, Beaulac J, Colgan T, Franco EL, Kropp RY,
Lotocki R, Mai V, McLachlin CM, Onysko J, Martin RE, Elit L, Guijon F, Mann J,
Ogilvie G, Romanowski B, Tromp M; Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of Canada;
Cervical Cancer Prevention Network of Canada; Canadian Coordinating Office for
Health Technology Assessment. Report of the 2003 pan-Canadian forum on cervical
cancer prevention and control. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2004 Nov;26(11):1004-28.
Review. English, French. PubMed PMID: 15560864.
30: Bancej CM, Maxwell CJ, Snider J. Inconsistent self-reported mammography
history: findings from the National Population Health Survey longitudinal cohort.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2004 Nov 12;4(1):32. PubMed PMID: 15541176; PubMed Central
PMCID: PMC535807.
31: Simpson K, Sebastian R, Arbuckle TE, Bancej C, Pickett W. Stress on the farm
and its association with injury. J Agric Saf Health. 2004 Aug;10(3):141-53.
PubMed PMID: 15461131.
32: Onysko J, Bancej CM, Pim CP. Re: International variation in screening
mammography interpretations in community-based programs. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004
Feb 4;96(3):238; author reply 238-9. PubMed PMID: 14759996.
33: Bancej C, Decker K, Chiarelli A, Harrison M, Turner D, Brisson J.
Contribution of clinical breast examination to mammography screening in the early
detection of breast cancer. J Med Screen. 2003;10(1):16-21. PubMed PMID:
12790311.
34: Arbuckle TE, Burnett R, Cole D, Teschke K, Dosemeci M, Bancej C, Zhang J.
Predictors of herbicide exposure in farm applicators. Int Arch Occup Environ
Health. 2002 Aug;75(6):406-14. Epub 2002 Apr 20. PubMed PMID: 12070637.
35: Olivotto IA, Gomi A, Bancej C, Brisson J, Tonita J, Kan L, Mah Z, Harrison M,
Shumak R. Influence of delay to diagnosis on prognostic indicators of
screen-detected breast carcinoma. Cancer. 2002 Apr 15;94(8):2143-50. PubMed PMID:
12001110.
36: Olivotto IA, Bancej C, Goel V, Snider J, McAuley RG, Irvine B, Kan L, Mirsky
D, Sabine MJ, McGilly R, Caines JS. Waiting times from abnormal breast screen to
diagnosis in 7 Canadian provinces. CMAJ. 2001 Aug 7;165(3):277-83. PubMed PMID:
11517642; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC81326.
37: Maxwell CJ, Bancej CM, Snider J, Vik SA. Factors important in promoting
cervical cancer screening among Canadian women: findings from the 1996-97
National Population Health Survey (NPHS). Can J Public Health. 2001
Mar-Apr;92(2):127-33. PubMed PMID: 11338151.
38: Maxwell CJ, Bancej CM, Snider J. Predictors of mammography use among Canadian
women aged 50-69: findings from the 1996/97 National Population Health Survey.
CMAJ. 2001 Feb 6;164(3):329-34. PubMed PMID: 11232132; PubMed Central PMCID:
PMC80725.
39: Bancej C, Arbuckle T. Injuries in Ontario farm children: a population based
study. Inj Prev. 2000 Jun;6(2):135-40. PubMed PMID: 10875671; PubMed Central
PMCID: PMC1730622.
40: Arbuckle TE, Schrader SM, Cole D, Hall JC, Bancej CM, Turner LA, Claman P.
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid residues in semen of Ontario farmers. Reprod
Toxicol. 1999 Nov-Dec;13(6):421-9. PubMed PMID: 10613390.