History and Directors

In the beginning

The need for research on livestock diseases had been recognized for years by the time VIDO was created in 1975 – with a staff of five individuals temporarily housed in trailers. Funding came largely from the Devonian Group of Charitable Foundations, the Province of Alberta and the Province of Saskatchewan. VIDO was located in Saskatchewan for close connections with the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine.

Originally the Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization, VIDO’s mandate was to develop vaccines for the protection of livestock against serious and economically devastating diseases, and to ensure the technology reached the producer.

Directors

Dr. Chris Bigland
VIDO’s first director was a major force in the organization’s creation and his many achievements exemplify his talent as a visionary, builder and innovator. With more than $5 million, together with the land allocated by the University, Dr. Bigland felt confident VIDO could devote its future efforts to the achievements that would be so important in meeting the food demands of Canada and other countries. During Dr. Bigland’s term as director (1975-1984), he made major contributions to Canada’s veterinary profession and to the nation’s agricultural industry.

As VIDO developed a strong pipeline of infectious disease products, Dr. Acres saw the opportunity to develop these products right in Saskatchewan and add value to the local economy. As a result, VIDO spun off a start-up company, BIOSTAR, which was successful in raising approximately $25 million of venture capital to further develop the products arising out of VIDO’s research efforts. In 1993, Dr. Acres became President of BIOSTAR Inc.

Dr. Lorne Babiuk
VIDO’s director for 14 years, Dr. Babiuk introduced the concept of using biotechnology to develop veterinary vaccines. He began his career at VIDO in 1984 as research director and became director in 1993. These biotechnology applications were truly unique at that time, and within a few years VIDO scientists developed the world’s first genetically engineered vaccine for any animal species. Dr. Babiuk also established strong linkages with industry, which allowed VIDO to add research laboratories and acquire a rural research station.

Dr. Andrew Potter
Dr. Potter succeeded Dr. Lorne Babiuk in July 2007. He is an internationally recognized authority on vaccine development, renowned for his visionary research into how bacteria cause disease. As a scientist at VIDO since 1985, his groundbreaking projects have generated “world firsts” in disease prevention and more than 50 patents for animal vaccine development and therapeutics. He holds the senior NSERC/Bioniche Industrial Research Chair in Food Safety.

Proving ourselves

VIDO’s first quarter century has been marked by growth and productivity in the face of limited resources. The organization achieved five world firsts in vaccine development and has been awarded more than 80 patents. In addition to developing vaccines, VIDO also established an excellent track record in transferring research discoveries into agricultural applications through management and animal housing information.

VIDO has become a unique and valuable part of Canada's national biotechnology research infrastructure. The Organization’s research prowess has been recognized in Canada and worldwide. For example, VIDO is a member of three Networks of Centres of Excellence (the Canadian Bacterial Diseases Network; the Canadian Network for Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics - CANVAC; and PrioNet Canada).

Evolution

In March 2003, VIDO’s logo and name changed to the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization to better reflect the extension of our research activities into new areas – for example human diseases such as hepatitis C and SARS, and the rapidly developing technologies of genomics and proteomics.

VIDO’s brand-new state-of-the-art expansion, officially opened in October 2003, added 50,000 square feet for a total of 80,000 in lab space, and 100,000 sqaure feet in total. VIDO employs more than 150 researchers and support staff on the University of Saskatchewan campus.

VIDO's expansion phase is not over, however. In March 2004, VIDO was awarded $19.2 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation towards an International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), slated to open on the University of Saskatchewan campus in 2010. This was followed by two Government of Canada investments of $24 million and up to $25 million, respectively. The facility – a collaboration of VIDO, the university’s College of Medicine and Western College of Veterinary Medicine as well as academic, research and government institutions in Canada and abroad – will be one of only a few of its kind in the world and will focus on vaccine development for both animal and human pathogens.

Economic impact

VIDO’s research during the first quarter-century has led directly to economic diversification by establishing value-added agri-businesses. VIDO has directly created three companies (BIOSTAR Inc., BIOWEST, STAR BIOTECH) and has assisted other startups in becoming successful (PharmaDerm Laboratories, Taiga Bioactives, Vetrepharm Canada Inc. and Inimex Veterinary Research). VIDO not only helps to bolster the growth of Canadian companies, but also fosters the relocation of companies to Canada.

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