VIDO leads $26.9 million genome project to fight infectious diseases

Saskatoon, Sask., April 4, 2002

The Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan, is leading a $26.9 million genomics research project to gain new knowledge about how immunity to infectious diseases works and to develop prevention strategies for both human and animal infections. Genome Canada announced April 2 in Edmonton that it would invest over $13 million, half of the money needed, in the project.

Infectious diseases are responsible for a third of all human deaths on the planet, says Dr. Lorne Babiuk, VIDO Director. Infectious diseases are also a major problem in the livestock industry, costing billions of dollars each year. VIDO is a global leader in developing vaccines for the control of food animal infectious diseases.

“This funding bolsters VIDO’s already expanding efforts in genomic research and in developing the next generation of vaccines and other disease prevention tools to help livestock producers fight infectious diseases,” says Babiuk.

The new announcement complements a $14.2 million expansion of the VIDO facility currently underway. “The timing of this funding is perfect, because now we can add a third floor to our building. That is much more economical than adding a floor once construction is complete,” he says. “The third floor will contain the bulk of our genomics activity.”

The project is focused on exploring the gene responses that occur in humans and animals, specifically cattle and poultry, following an exposure to an infectious agent, he says. “The responses will be investigated from the agent perspective as well as the host perspective. By identifying the specific genes in bacteria that are turned on when entering an animal, we will have a better idea of which genes are important in inducing disease.”

That knowledge will allow VIDO researchers and others to more quickly design vaccines to target those “Achilles heel” genes, he explains. “We will also look at how the animal responds to a disease challenge and look at the good responses in the hopes of developing pharmaceutical products or vaccines that will stimulate those good responses.”

While Genome Canada is providing half of the money for the project, the private companies AniGenics Inc., of Chicago, Ill., and Inimex, of Vancouver B.C., along with the Province of Saskatchewan will provide the other half of the funding required. The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a co-partner with VIDO in the project.

“We will also capitalize on expertise already available in Canada, so we don’t have to hire scientists specifically for the project,” Babiuk says. Researchers from Simon Fraser University and the British Columbia Cancer Agency will collaborate in the project as well the University of Illinois. Two thirds of the funding will go to VIDO and the University of Saskatchewan and one third will go to UBC.

The funding from Genome Canada was awarded on the recommendation of more than 150 international experts in genomics and ethics research. Each proposal was carefully assessed against a number of criteria, including: scientific excellence of the proposed research; quality and experience of the research involved; management and organizational effectiveness and project financing.

“The fact the Board of Genome Canada selected this project from the vast number of applications demonstrates that the University of Saskatchewan and VIDO are world-class research institutions committed to top-level research,” says Babiuk.

The VIDO project was one of two agricultural projects in the Prairies receiving research investment from this round of Genome Canada competitions. Genome Canada was established by the federal government to support the development of Canada’s research infrastructure and retain world-class researchers in Canada. It funds projects that will improve quality of life in areas such as health, nutrition and the environment.

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 Government of Canada competitive grants.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Lorne Babiuk, Director
Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization
Phone: (306) 966-7475, Fax: (306) 966-7478
E-mail: babiuk@sask.usask.ca