Dr. Van Kessel is Director of Research at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), joining the team in 2020. Andrew has contributed to VIDO’s growth as a Canadian Center for Pandemic Research. As the leader of the discovery research team, Andrew has overseen the expansion of the organization’s research capacity, including strengthening Canada’s preparedness for emerging infectious diseases and supporting vaccine development for both human and animal health. He holds a BSc From Dalhousie University and a PhD from the University of Saskatchewan. He established an internationally recognized research program in host:microbial interactions and gut health. Before joining VIDO, he served as a faculty member and administrator at the University of Saskatchewan, where he contributed extensively to teaching, research, and innovation in agricultural sciences.