VIDO launches $14.2 million expansion

Saskatoon, Sask., October 24, 2001

The next generation of livestock disease and food safety research was launched today in Saskatoon. A sod-turning ceremony officially kicked off a $14.2 million expansion of the Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) a leading vaccine research and development organization located at the University of Saskatchewan

Since VIDO was established in 1975, it has developed into a global leader in livestock infectious disease research, says VIDO Director, Dr. Lorne Babiuk. “This expansion will substantially increase Canada and the world’s capacity to fight food animal diseases and address food safety challenges. It will build on the impressive research infrastructure in place at VIDO and the University of Saskatchewan. It is an excellent example of what industry, producers, government and the research community can accomplish by working in partnership.”

Several major financial supporters contributed to the project. The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) contributed $5.1 million. CFI is an independent corporation established by the Government of Canada to strengthen the capability of Canadian universities, colleges and other not-for-profit research institutions to carry out world class research. The Province of Saskatchewan also contributed $5.1 million. The Province of Alberta contributed $2 million to equip the new facility.

“Canada’s research capacity in terms of infrastructure, advanced scientific training and livestock sector competitiveness will be advanced as a result of these funds,” says Babiuk. “We are grateful that our partners recognized our contribution to Canadian science and our ability to make further progress with new infrastructure.”

The recently announced expansion will add 30,000 square feet of office and lab space. “The expansion will strengthen core activities and increase capacity in genomics, bioinformatics and vaccine formulation,” says Babiuk. “With the new space, equipment and staff, we will be able to capture the opportunities afforded by genomics and other advances in science. These tools will also allow us to capitalize on the convergence of human and animal health research.”

Over the next five years, VIDO will add 60 new staff members to complement the 85 already on site. “The addition of new scientific expertise and technical assistance is the most exciting part of this expansion,” he says. “Our success has always hinged on our people, and this expansion allows us to bring more of the top minds in infectious diseases to Saskatoon and the University of Saskatchewan campus.”

Besides the additional staff, new equipment is also on its way. At the top of the list are new micro-array readers, micro-array spotters and DNA sequencers. “We will have the ability to do our DNA sequencing in-house instead of outsourcing,” says Babiuk. “Combined with the new expertise we will acquire, this equipment will allow us to tackle old diseases in new ways.”

The organization’s aggressive pursuit of new vaccine delivery systems, such as oral and intra-nasal delivery, and the new “food safety” vaccine initiative best exemplified by the E. coli 0157:H7 vaccine developed at VIDO, will be bolstered by the expansion. “Because of the rate of technological change, we will be able to do things never dreamt of even five years ago.”

While new scientific frontiers have been opening, the organization’s space has been closing, says Babiuk. “By the late ’90s, it became apparent our 26-year-old facility would have to expand if we wanted to remain one of the pre-eminent livestock infectious disease and food safety institutes in the world. We decided that sitting still was actually going back, and we had come too far to do that.”

Ultimately, Canadian livestock and poultry producers will see the most value from the expansion, says Babiuk. “Our goal has always been to provide cost-effective disease solutions to livestock producers and this expansion will help us continue to achieve that. As an example of our success, VIDO has been awarded 43 patents and 17 are currently pending.”

VIDO is a world leader in vaccine research for the control of infectious diseases in food animals and poultry and is a wholly owned University of Saskatchewan not-for-profit institute. It operates with substantial support from the Government of Alberta and the Government of Saskatchewan as well as Federal Government competitive grants.

For more information, contact:

Stuart Bond
Associate Director, Producer Relations
Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization
Phone: (306) 966-7474
Fax: (306) 966-7478