Research team at the University of Saskatchewan's VIDO-InterVac. Photo Courtesy: University of Saskatchewan

By Britton Gray/ CJME News

Saskatoon’s VIDO-InterVac fundraising to become Canada’s Centre for Pandemic Research

Apr 6, 2021 | 5:47 PM

Saskatoon’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) wants Saskatchewan to become the home of Canada’s future pandemic response and it’s asking residents to help make that a reality.

A fundraising effort has been launched in order to raise $5 million of the $66-million price tag to upgrade existing facilities of VIDO-InterVac.

It would then be known as Canada’s Centre for Pandemic Research. People can donate through the organization’s website.

“We don’t have a true centre for pandemic research, but VIDO is well positioned to be this,” Ryan Thompson, chair of VIDO’s board, said on Gormley on Tuesday.

“We’ve got the facility there in Saskatoon and, more importantly, we have a team there where the passion and commitment is second to none.”

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“Right now, here in Saskatoon, we already operate Canada’s largest high-containment laboratory,” said Volker Gerdts, CEO of VIDO.

“That has enabled us not only to come up with a vaccine and be the first Canadian institution to have a vaccine in clinical trials, but we also, over the last 12 months, have worked with more than 80 companies and 40 of them are Canadian companies evaluating their technologies and their vaccines.

“The vision for this centre is to be a national pillar in response to emerging diseases.”

The facility would require Ottawa to kick in $46 million and the Government of Saskatchewan would provide $15 million, depending on the federal government’s decision. The City of Saskatoon has also committed $250,000 to the project.

The upgraded facilities would allow VIDO to house animals for research all-year round, including bats.

“Bats host a number of viruses and are often the culprit of a new and emerging disease,” said Gerdts.

“It’s important we have all-year-round access to these animals but also to insects, reptiles, and so on to be able to respond as rapidly as possible, whether it’s a human disease or an animal disease.”

Thompson said the facility would be a point of pride for Saskatchewan residents.

“We have drive. The people of Saskatchewan are genius people and we have the drive to get this done. When you look at the people and infrastructure we already have at the University of Saskatchewan and VIDO, it’s second to none,” Thompson said.

“This is just taking us to the next step. If you were to go somewhere else, you’re starting at Step 1. VIDO is already in the fast lane and we’re moving. Not only will it be Canada’s pandemic research, people from around the world will envy what Saskatchewan has here right at home.”

While VIDO has worked on many projects over the years, it has been in the spotlight recently because of COVID-19. The vaccine VIDO is working on finished its Phase 1 trials with its first group of volunteers, none of whom experienced adverse side effects. This will allow the organization to begin working towards getting to the next phase with an even larger test group.

“As soon as the data allows Health Canada to give us the green light for the next phase, we’re ready to do those,” Gerdts said. “As time is of the essence, we’re trying to do it as quickly as possible.”

While COVID is top of mind now, Thompson says VIDO does so much more.

“We do all kinds of research, especially on the animal side. That’s where we have our start and where our roots are,” said Thompson.

“As far as animal agriculture goes — whether that’s beef or poultry or pork or even some of the specialty industries — VIDO has done a ton of work and you’ve probably used products that were developed at VIDO.”