History

Originally established in 1975 as the Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization, we have evolved from a small agricultural focused research organization to a world-class research institute dedicated to the development of vaccines for the protection of human and animal health.

Picture

Saving Livestock through Research

The Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) was founded with financial support from the Devonian Group of Charitable Foundations, the Provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta and the University of Saskatchewan. Pictured, VIDO's founding Director Dr. Christopher Bigland.

1975
Picture

Official Opening

VIDO officially opened its permanent laboratory and animal isolation facilities

1978
Picture

First Vaccine Launched

VICOGEN™, an E. Coli scours vaccine for cattle, was launched in collaboration with Connaught Laboratories

1978
Picture

Launch of BIOSTAR Inc.

BIOSTAR Inc., a federally incorporated company was launched to market animal health technologies and products developed at VIDO to national and international biological production companies

1983
Picture

Second Director Appointed

Dr. Stephen Acres replaces Dr. Chris Bigland as VIDO’s second Director, with Dr. Lorne Babiuk appointed as the Director of Research

1983
Picture

Second Vaccine Launched

Commercialization of ECOLAN RC™, a subunit vaccine against calf scours caused by E. coli, rotavirus and coronavirus

1984
Picture

New 'World-First' Vaccine

Launch of HEVLAN TC™, the world’s first vaccine for hemorrhagic enteritis of turkeys

1986
Picture

Research Station Opens

VIDO opens its 160 acre research station for large scale animal trials

1987
Picture

3 New Vaccines Launched

Three new vaccines for bovine respiratory diseases commercialized: Pneumo-Star™, Somnu-Star™ and Somnu-Star Ph™

1992
Picture

Third Director Appointed

Dr. Lorne Babiuk becomes VIDO’s third Director

1993
Picture

Swine Vaccine Commercialized

Commercialization of Pleuro-Star 4™, a vaccine for swine that stimulates a protective immune response against the common strains of the bacteria causing swine pleuro-pneumonia

1997
Picture

Containment Level 2 Expansion Opens

VIDO opens a new $17.8 million, 50,000 square foot expansion of containment level 2 laboratories and offices. Funding received from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, the Province of Saskatchewan and the Province of Alberta

2003
Picture

New Name and Logo

Renamed as the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization to reflect expanded research goals

2003
Picture

Fourth Director Appointed

Dr. Andrew Potter takes over as VIDO’s new Director & CEO

2007
Picture

Econiche Launch

Econiche™, a vaccine for cattle against E. coli O157:H7, co-developed by researchers at the University of British Columbia commercialized by Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.

2008
Picture

PREVENT Established

VIDO-InterVac, the Canadian Center for Vaccinology, and the BC Centre for Disease Control fund the establishment of the Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise Inc., a not-for-profit organization focused on commercializing promising human vaccine candidates

2008
Picture

InterVac Grand Opening

VIDO celebrates the opening of its $140 million containment level 3 facility, the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac). The event was attended by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and Saskatoon Mayor Donald Atchison

2011
Picture

InterVac Goes Hot

Containment level 3 projects begin following final certification from government agencies

2013
Picture

ISO 9001 Certification

VIDO's Management System is certified to ISO 9001

2013
Picture

Fifth Director Appointed

Dr. Volker Gerdts selected as VIDO's fifth Director and CEO

2019
Picture

New Visual Identity

Re-established our original VIDO acronym and embraced a new visual identity that symbolizes our national and international impact

2021