Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization – International Vaccine Centre
Established1975
Field of research
Science and biotechnology (vaccines)
DirectorVolker Gerdts
Staff150[1]
LocationSaskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Operating agency
University of Saskatchewan
Websitewww.vido.org

The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization – International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac) is a research organization of the University of Saskatchewan that operates with financial support from the Government of Canada, the government of Saskatchewan, livestock industry councils and agencies, foundations and human and animal health companies.[2] In addition to the 2,500,000 sq ft (230,000 m2) facility on campus, VIDO-InterVac also operates a 160-acre (0.6 km2) research station.[3]

VIDO-InterVac's aims are to protect Canada and the world from infectious diseases by focusing on diseases that: affect livestock industries; are important to human health; and are emerging diseases including zoonoses.[4]

History

Originally named the Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization, VIDO-InterVac was established with funding from the Devonian Group of Charitable Foundations, the Province of Alberta and the Province of Saskatchewan. VIDO had strong ties to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. The laboratory took on its current name in March 2003. In October 2003, a 50,000 sq ft (5,000 m2) expansion was completed.

In March 2004, VIDO received funding for the construction one of the world's largest and most advanced biosafety level 3 facilities, the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), for research into emerging and reemerging human and animal diseases.[5] The approximately CA$150 million in funding needed for infrastructure was provided by the Government of Canada, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Government of Saskatchewan, the University of Saskatchewan, and the City of Saskatoon.

InterVac finished construction in 2011 with a celebration that included then-prime minister Stephen Harper, Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall, and Saskatoon mayor Don Atchison. It received operational certification by the Public Health Agency of Canada and Canadian Food Inspection Agency in 2013. InterVac is one of the few level 3 facilities in the world capable of working with large animals including cattle, deer, elk, alpacas, sheep, and pigs.[6]

The organization has had five directors since its inception. Chris Bigland was the founding director and ran the organization from 1975 to 1984. Its other directors have been Stephen Acres (1984–1993), Lorne Babiuk (1993–2007), Andrew Potter (2007–2018), and Volker Gerdts (2019–present).[7][8]

VIDO-InterVac has created three spin-off companies (Biostar, Biowest, and Star Biotech).[7]

COVID-19 research

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Saskatchewan has provided $4.2 million to VIDO-InterVac.[9] It also received $23 million in federal funding announced on March 23, 2020 for the centre's manufacturing facility to produce COVID-19 vaccines for clinical trials, and for overall operational costs.[10]

Vaccines

  • Vicogen (cattle) – Prevention of calf scours
  • Ecolan RC (cattle) – Prevention of bacterial and viral calf scours
  • Hevlan TC (poultry) – Prevention of enteritis in turkeys
  • Pneumo-Star (cattle) – Prevention of Pasteurella infection
  • Somnu-Star (cattle) – Prevention of Haemophilosis in cattle
  • Somnu-Star Ph (cattle) – Prevention of Pasteurellosis and Haemophilosis in cattle
  • Pleuro-Star 4 (swine) – Prevention of Porcine Pleuropneumonia
  • Econiche (cattle) – Reduction of shedding of Ecoli O157 to control human infection and environmental contamination

In 2020, VIDO-InterVac began developing a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "About". VIDO-InterVac. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Home". VIDO-InterVac.
  3. ↑ "Facilities". VIDO-InterVac.
  4. ↑ "Our Research". VIDO-InterVac.
  5. ↑ "University of Saskatchewan University of Saskatchewan, International Vaccine Centre (InterVac)". MCW Hemsiphere Ltd. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Combatting Infectious Disease Through Vaccine Research: VIDO/InterVac at the U of S" (PDF). University of Saskatchewan. 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  7. 1 2 "History". VIDO-InterVac.
  8. ↑ "Volker Gerdts". VIDO-InterVac. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  9. ↑ "New Money Aids Saskatchewan's Search for COVID-19 Vaccine | News and Media". Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  10. ↑ James, Thia. "Feds pledge $23.3M for VIDO-InterVac amid COVID-19 pandemic". thestarphoenix.com. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Saskatchewan lab joins global effort to develop coronavirus vaccine". CBC News. The Canadian Press. January 24, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
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