University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) has been given $24 million in funding to develop a groundbreaking vaccine that could protect against multiple coronavirus variants and future pandemic threats.
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) announced the grant at VIDO's campus, marking a significant step forward in Canada's pandemic preparedness efforts.
“If it’s successful, this vaccine could kind of serve as a holy grail, protecting us against both the coronaviruses we know about and the ones that could still strike in the future,” said Dr. Nicole Lurie, Executive Director of CEPI.
“This could help stop a future outbreak in its tracks before it spreads to pandemic proportions.”
The project builds on VIDO's previous work developing a variant-proof COVID-19 vaccine, which received CEPI funding in 2021.
Unlike traditional vaccines, this new version would not require complex frozen storage, making it more accessible globally.
“It’s all about predicting what is coming in the future and being ready for it,” said Dr. Volker Gerdts, CEO of VIDO.
The announcement comes as VIDO continues construction of its Containment Level 4 laboratory, which will be Canada's second facility capable of handling the most dangerous pathogens.
The lab is expected to open in approximately two years.
Terry Duguid, federal minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), highlighted the government's commitment to vaccine research, pointing out that Ottawa has invested more than $120 million in VIDO since 2020 to establish it as a world-class research hub.
“We’re really preparing for the next pandemic,” Duguid told the media.
“We had H1N1, we had SARS. Those were wake-up calls, but still, we weren’t prepared for the kind of pandemic that COVID brought.”
The Saskatchewan provincial government has also supported the facility's expansion, providing $15 million in 2021 and more than $4 million in annual operating costs this fiscal year.