Reshaping infectious disease research in Canada
InterVac will:
- Bring new vaccines that benefit animal and human health to market sooner than ever before.
- Facilitate the work of VIDO and its partners in government and industry to develop, test and commercialize new vaccines.
- Offer numerous benefits to research and science, to industry, to Saskatoon and Saskatchewan, and to society.
BENEFITS TO SOCIETY
Why is a facility like this needed?
Climate change, globalization and agricultural practices are enabling existing and new diseases such as avian influenza, West Nile Virus and SARS to emerge and spread swiftly. These diseases have profound impacts on quality of life and the economy, and so there is an urgent need for vaccines to protect against them, and treatments to mitigate and eliminate them.
Internationally, there are vaccine research institutes developing novel vaccines using genomics and recombinant DNA technology, but there is a shortage of facilities to test these vaccines in species other than mice.
As one of a handful of large Canadian research facilities capable of accommodating large animal models, VIDO and InterVac will attract researchers from around the world and will be at the forefront of addressing the world’s most challenging diseases and suppress future epidemics by bringing effective vaccines to market quickly.
How does InterVac fit in with Canada’s strategy for dealing with infectious disease?
InterVac and VIDO together will be integral to the work of the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. As one of the few Containment level 3 (CL3) labs in the world that can support vaccine research with relevant quantities of large animals such as cows, the infrastructure bottleneck facing research teams in infectious disease here and internationally will be addressed.
How many infectious diseases currently exist which can be prevented by vaccines?
More than 25 infectious diseases that exist today are vaccine-preventable.
What is an example of how vaccination can benefit society?
The benefits of vaccination often extend from the individual to the overall population. For example, complete courses of vaccination for infants against invasive pneumococcal infection have helped decrease the incidence in adults 65 years or older by 75.1% (Kellner et al., 2006).
Can the development of vaccines decrease our spending on health care?
Yes, one dollar spent on vaccine development = $3 in health care costs and economists have estimated that every dollar spent on some of the most inexpensive childhood vaccines has yielded benefits as high as $27.*
Vaccines are inexpensive compared to the long-term care required for disease treatment and remain the most cost-effective health intervention available. Canadian spending on vaccines accounts for less than 0.17% of the annual health care budget (PHAC, 2007 & CIHI, 2006). In Canada, vaccination against these diseases saves $88 million in treatment costs per year and over 420,000 lives annually.
*Pollack, A. (2004, October 29). Vaccines Are Good Business for Drug Makers. New York Times.
How would InterVac be involved in a deadly infectious disease outbreak?
In the case of an ongoing outbreak, InterVac will serve as a back-up to the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg should there be urgent need for additional facilities. Only research taking place at or below CL3 would occur in this situation.
BENEFITS TO SASKATOON AND SASKATCHEWAN
How will InterVac benefit the local Saskatoon economy and the province of Saskatchewan?
VIDO’s research successes underscore the potential economic impact of InterVac. For example, VIDO vaccines for the prevention of calf scours (diarrhea) save an estimated $5 billion in economic losses per year across North America, with up to $75 million in Saskatchewan alone.
In addition to about 400 construction jobs, InterVac will bring over 50 full-time research-related employment positions to the province.
InterVac will enable pharmaceutical companies to bring their products to market faster, leading to local economic impacts through relocation of companies to Saskatoon.
Working together, VIDO and InterVac will reshape the landscape for infectious disease research in Canada, secure Saskatchewan’s international leadership in vaccine development, and provide unparalleled research, teaching and graduate study opportunities.
BENEFITS TO SCIENCE AND RESEARCH
How will InterVac benefit scientists and researchers?
Researchers from around the world will be attracted to InterVac. Students and postgraduates in areas such as veterinary medicine, medicine, engineering, toxicology and vaccinology will benefit greatly from the valuable training InterVac will provide and the doors to exciting future opportunities that will be opened as a result of working at VIDO and InterVac.
InterVac will be part of the University of Saskatchewan Research Cluster that includes Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy and Nutrition, and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
The University’s research park, Innovation Place, is the most successful in North America, and develops new ideas in fields ranging from agricultural biotechnology and pharmaceutical development to advanced communications and information technology. Research centres like this one are placing the U of S among the leading universities in the country. InterVac, the Canadian Light Source, and the unique array of life science programs are establishing a global reputation for the University of Saskatchewan, attracting top faculty and students to the campus.
InterVac’s large space and distinctive design will allow for a range of experimental designs from preclinical testing to licensing trials. InterVac will enable researchers to gain deeper understanding of Containment Level 3 infectious diseases and respond faster to emerging diseases affecting animals and humans. This will help commercial partners such as pharmaceutical companies bring their products to market faster, helping Canadians and people worldwide.
Opportunities for these types of collaboration are unavailable elsewhere in North America.
BENEFITS TO INDUSTRY
How will InterVac benefit the biopharmaceutical industry?
The number one goal of VIDO and InterVac is to develop, test and get vaccines to market much sooner than ever before.
InterVac offers an innovative approach to research and development. The state-of-the-art facility will allow for a broad range of experimental designs from preclinical testing to licensing trials.
InterVac’s CL3 capabilities will allow industry to better understand the interaction between humans and animals, and meet the growing need for animal and human vaccine research.
InterVac will build on VIDO's experience with confidentiality and ability to offer a smooth research-to-development bridge. Users will benefit from business-based access to new licensable discoveries and international opportunities for development and deployment of new products.
How will InterVac benefit the agricultural sector?
Part of InterVac’s mandate is to protect animal health and support the agricultural economy. InterVac will build on VIDO’s experience in working with cattle, horses, swine, sheep and poultry, as well as smaller mammals. The majority of the animal models that enable this research are also relevant to economically significant diseases of livestock.
The U of S animal care committee and veterinarians operate under regulations established by the Canadian Council on Animal Care, ensuring animals are well treated. Veterinarians and other animal health officials receive training and continuing education to recognize and respond to disease outbreaks.
