Website www.vido.org Founded 1975 | Headquarters Saskatoon, Canada Number of employees 165 (2016) | |
Industry Science and biotechnology (vaccines) Key people Dr. Andrew Potter - Director and Chief Executive Officer
Cam Ewart - Associate Director, Operations
Dr. Volker Gerdts - Associate Director, Research
Dr. Paul Hodgson - Associate Director, Business Development
Joyce Sander - Associate Director, Human Resources
Lorne Vanin - Associate Director, Finance Products Research and development Type of business Charity University of Saskatchewan Similar Canadian Light Source, Centre for Drug Research, International Vaccine Institute | ||
The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre is a research organization of the University of Saskatchewan that operates with financial support from the governments of Saskatchewan as well as Government of Canada and industry competitive grants, foundation grants and royalties from licensed prodcucts. In addition to the 2,500,000 sq ft (230,000 m2) facility on campus, VIDO-InterVac also operates a 160-acre (0.6 km2) research station.
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VIDO-InterVac was a member of three National Networks of Centres of Excellence: the Canadian Bacterial Diseases Network, the Canadian Network for Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics (CANVAC), PrioNet and is currently a member of the Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise (PREVENT). It has created three spin-off companies (Biostar, Biowest, and Star Biotech) and has worked with multiple major industry and start-up companies.
History
Originally named the Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization, VIDO was established with funding from the Devonian Group of Charitable Foundations, the Province of Alberta and the Province of Saskatchewan. VIDO had strong ties to the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine. In March 2003, VIDO’s name was changed to the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization. In October 2003 a 50,000 sq ft (5,000 m2) expansion was completed.
In March 2004, VIDO received funding for the construction one of the world's largest and most advanced Biosafety Level 3 facilities, the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), for research into emerging and persistent human and animal diseases. The ~$150 million (Cdn) in infrastructure funding was provided by Government of Canada, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Government of Saskatchewan, the University of Saskatchewan, and the City of Saskatoon.
InterVac finished construction in 2011 with a celebration that included the Prime Minister of Canada (Stephen Harper), the Premier of Saskatchewan (Brad Wall) and Mayor of Saskatoon (Don Atchison). It received operational certification by the Public Health Agency and Canadian Food Inspection Agency in 2013. InterVac is one of the few Level 3 facilities in the world capable of working with large animals including cattle, deer, elk, llamas/el pacas, sheep, and pigs.
The organization has had 4 directors since its inception. Dr. Chris Bigland was the founding director and ran the organization from 1975–1984; Dr. Stephen Acres (1984–1993), [Dr. Lorne Babiuk] (1993–2007) and Dr. Andrew Potter who became director in 2007.