CIHR funding supports VIDO research to strengthen outbreak and pandemic preparedness
Pandemic preparedness has never been more important, and researchers at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are exploring new research and response strategies with the support of government funding.
By Candace LambTwo new projects receiving funding from the Fall 2025 Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant competition will support VIDO scientists as they advance research on emerging viruses with serious impacts on human and animal health. The work will take place in VIDO’s high-containment facility and will strengthen outbreak and pandemic preparedness by improving understanding of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 and accelerating vaccine strategies for high consequence bunyaviruses.
Funded projects:
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus H5N1: Immune Response, Inflammation and Cell Death, Interferon Response, Mammary Gland, Virus Replication – Dr. Yan Zhou
Influenza A viruses, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, can cause severe disease in humans and animals. Recently, HPAI H5N1 was found to infect the mammary glands of dairy cows, triggering severe inflammation (mastitis) and leading to large amounts of virus being shed into milk. In some cases, farm workers became infected through exposure during milking activities.
This project aims to understand how different subtypes of influenza A viruses affect the mammary gland of various species and why HPAI H5N1 causes more severe inflammation than other influenza viruses. By identifying the specific immune pathways that lead to tissue damage and mastitis, Zhou hopes to uncover new insights into how influenza viruses cause disease outside the lungs. This work could help improve understanding of viral infections in lactating individuals and support the development of better strategies for preventing and treating complications caused by influenza.
Co-investigator on this project is VIDO’s Dr. Antonio Facciuolo. The project grant is $1,254,600 for five years.
Studies into improved broadly reactive and protective vaccination strategies for high consequence bunyaviruses – Dr. Bryce Warner
Bunyaviruses represent a large group of viruses, many of which are zoonotic, meaning they can spread between animals and humans. Within this group are several families that include viruses that can cause severe illness or death, spread quickly, and have no effective treatments or vaccines. Notable examples include Lassa virus, South American hemorrhagic fever-causing viruses, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus, Rift Valley Fever virus, and hantaviruses, among others. While many of these are considered foreign diseases to Canada hantavirus averages about four to five new cases annually, with most cases linked to deer mice exposure in Western provinces. Bunyaviruses can also cause severe disease in animals, particularly in livestock species, leading to significant economic impacts.
This project will support the development of improved vaccine strategies for high consequence Bunyaviruses, including hantaviruses and Lassa virus. Using both protein-based and viral-vectored vaccine platforms and a novel computational pipeline for vaccine antigen prediction and design, novel vaccines will be produced for these high consequence viruses. The project will assess vaccine performance using different adjuvants and delivery routes and evaluate the effectiveness of selected candidates in animal models. The goal is to help enable faster vaccine development for emerging and re-emerging pathogens and strengthen epidemic and pandemic preparedness.
Co-investigators on this project are Dr. Zahed Khatooni (VIDO), Dr. Leonardo Susta (University of Guelph), and Dr. Sarah Wootton (University of Guelph). The priority announcement is $100,000 for one year.