PREVENT partners
Funding partners | R & D partners
VIDO/InterVac | The Canadian Center of Vaccinology | The BC Centre for Disease Control
Research | Patents, Facilities & Training
VIDO/InterVac
Saskatoon: The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), a non-profit organization owned by the University of Saskatchewan, is a world leader in the research and development of vaccines and immunity-enhancing technologies for humans and animals. It brings preclinical research capacity (Containment Level 2 laboratory and animal facilities) and is leading development of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), Canada's largest Containment Level 3 laboratory dedicated to vaccine development and capable of testing vaccines for large animals.
VIDO's work to develop cost-effective and easily administered vaccines is critical for rapid response against existing and emerging infectious disease threats. VIDO's research efforts strengthen the competitiveness of the livestock industry and protect the health of Canadians.
Research
VIDO's research activities continue to address infectious diseases of importance to the human and animal health industries. As new diseases emerge, the development of control and prevention strategies becomes more important than ever. Many of VIDO's research programs, therefore, are committed to developing better understanding of disease threats such as avian flu, prion diseases and West Nile virus and the development of technologies that will facilitate rapid and cost-effective delivery of vaccines in the event of disease outbreaks.
Construction of the new International Vaccine Centre (InterVac) is underway and when completed this state-of-the-art facility will be the largest Bio-safety Containment Level 3 vaccine research centre in Canada devoted to vaccinology. This, along with VIDO's highly qualified team of research scientists, will enhance Canada's ability to conduct research into both human and large animal diseases.
Research efforts are concentrated on developing platform technologies that improve vaccine formulation and delivery for multiple diseases, species and vaccines, e.g. the focus is on the identification of novel adjuvants and immunomodulators as well as strategies for systemic and mucosal vaccine delivery. Disease targets include animal diseases such as chronic wasting disease, Johne's disease, and bovine mastitis as well as human diseases including RSV, pertussis, hepatitis C and influenza.
Recent food-borne diseases have caused significant economic and social impacts for both the livestock industry and the Canadian health care system. Many food-borne diseases have their origin in contaminated water and animal products. VIDO's food safety program is focused on developing intervention strategies for important pathogens such as E. coli 0157:H7, Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella species and indeed has been involved in the development of a world's first vaccine for E.coli O157 in cattle.
