Funding Announced for VIDO Research Equipment

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan – The Honourable Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan, Minister of Western Economic Diversification, today announced $1.14 million for the University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine & Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) to purchase research equipment and lab supplies for its recently opened, $17.8-million expansion.

The equipment that will be purchased for the expansion includes microscopes, pH meters, centrifuges and a variety of other supplies. The funding for this equipment will add to the $4.5 million Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) has already contributed to the expansion, which officially opened in October 2003. It represents a total investment of $5.64 million over the past three years.

“WD’s investment will provide VIDO with the resources it needs as a global leader in vaccine and infectious disease research,” said Minister Pagtakhan. “The Government of Canada is working with pioneering western research centres like VIDO to leverage their ingenuity and capitalize on innovation.”

“We are very appreciative of WD’s support in helping us use our expansion to its full potential,” said VIDO Director Lorne Babiuk. “This investment will allow us to fully equip our new facility. Every piece of equipment we buy is an asset in ensuring we can deliver the high quality results for which we are known.”

In October 2001, VIDO began work on an expansion to its current facilities. The expansion has added 50,000 square feet of state-of-the-art lab space and equipment, as well as new office space. Since adding on, VIDO has increased its staff to more than 120 by recruiting over 40 research scientists and technicians.

The new labs and world-class scientific staff have enabled VIDO to probe the molecular processes involved in infection and development of immunity, ultimately leading to new vaccines that will protect the health of humans and animals. The expansion has extended its resources for genomics and proteomics research, which both have significant applications to human health.

Since opening in 1975, VIDO has established itself as a leader in researching, developing and commercializing products used by producers in the food animal industry in vaccine and infectious disease research. It currently holds more than 50 biotechnology patents and has 32 pending. VIDO also collaborates with research institutes around the world and with more than 30 commercial companies.

In its effort to support innovation in the West, the Government of Canada has contributed $10.79 million to VIDO’s expansion over the past three years through WD and indirectly through the Canada Foundation for Innovation. This is in addition to the $13.5 million that Genome Canada and its partners granted VIDO in April 2002 to help lead a $27 million national genomics project.

Federal funding for this project was provided for in the February 2003 federal budget.

Contact information:

Tess Laidlaw
Communications
VIDO
(306) 966-2568
www.vido.org

Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
www.usask.ca

Joanne MysakManager,
Consultation, Marketing and Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
(306) 975-5942
WD Toll-Free No.: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)
www.wd.gc.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Backgrounder: VIDO $17.8 M Expansion

• Construction of the expansion began in October 2001, and was initially budgeted at $14.3-million.

• Initial funding was provided by the Government of Saskatchewan ($5.15 million), the Canada Foundation for Innovation ($5.15 million), Western Economic Diversification (WD) ($2 million) and the Government of Alberta ($2 million).

• VIDO’s success in attracting a $27-million Genome Canada investment allowed a third floor to be added. Through the Genome Canada award, WD provided an additional $2.5 million and the Province of Saskatchewan (Industry and Resources) $500,000. The U of S contributed $500,000 for a fully equipped conference centre. With the current award, WD’s contribution grows by an additional $1.14 million.

• The expansion will bring $19 million in research funding to Saskatchewan and lead to the creation of close to 40 jobs in Saskatoon.

• The official opening of the VIDO expansion took place Oct. 16, 2003 and the building is being fully utilized by VIDO’s multidisciplinary team of immunologists, epidemiologists, virologists, veterinarians and physicians, biochemists, molecular biologists, biomedical engineers, and pharmacists.

• Wholly owned by the U of S, VIDO operates with substantial support from the governments of Saskatchewan and Alberta, as well as federal government and industry competitive grants.