Construction Begins on $110 Million Saskatchewan's Human and Animal Infectious Disease Center

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Written by Annette Kreuger Pharmaceutical-Biotech Industry Manager for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas). The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) was founded by the University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) in 1975. Since that time, VIDO has emerged as a world leader in animal vaccine research, developing not one, but five world firsts in new animal vaccines. In 2006, it also garnered attention for being the first in Canada to develop a new vaccine against Hepatitis C for humans. Determined to continue it progressive research and become one of the largest vaccine laboratories in North America, the school has begun construction on the $110 million facility in Saskatoon, which will be known as the International Vaccine Center (InterVac).

In planning for years (reference: Pharmaceutical Tracker - Online Database ), the project was designed by Smith Carter (Winnipeg, Manitoba). The 165,000 square-foot center will include Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) high containment labs and large animal testing facilities. Embracing a modular system, there will be eighteen separate labs that can work independently or be combined into one large lab that can focus on specific area.

Initially created to benefit Canadians, VIDO's successful research has had a global impact. It currently claims over 60 patents on a wide range of vaccines, with another 30 patents pending. VIDO received funding for one its current projects in the form of a $5.6-million dollar grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, part of a worldwide challenge inviting researchers to develop and improve vaccines for children. The VIDO project is focused on eliminating both the need for booster immunizations and for needles, while creating vaccines that protect newborns.

PCL Construction (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) is handling construction of InterVac, which will have the ability to study multiple species, with space for up to 180 cows or 5,000 chickens. This is important when considering that almost 80% of emerging infectious diseases, including the avian flu and West Nile Virus, affect both humans and animals. When construction is complete in 2010, the center will work on researching and developing new drug therapies against all BSL-3 level diseases, including the existing threats of tuberculosis, hepatitis C and influenza viruses.

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