Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac)

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
What the facility does

Vaccine development and testing, containment level 2 and 3 infectious disease research, large animal models of disease, preclinical trials, regulatory trials

Areas of expertise

VIDO-InterVac is one of Canada’s premier research institutes, with over 40 years of experience in infectious disease research and vaccine development for animals and humans. VIDO-InterVac has more than 150 personnel and some of the world’s most advanced containment infrastructure, including containment level 2 and level 3 animal housing and laboratories, a select agent lab, an aerobiology challenge unit, and a 160-acre containment level 2 research station. The unique $140-million large animal containment level 3 laboratory (the International Vaccine Centre or InterVac) became operational in 2013. VIDO-InterVac can complete multiple stages of vaccine development including pre-clinical trials for human vaccines and full regulatory and efficacy trials for animal vaccines.

Research services

Pathogenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, kinomics, antigen identification, vaccine development, vaccine formulation and delivery, animal disease models (containment 2 and 3), preclinical vaccine testing (human), regulatory vaccine testing (animals)

Sectors of application
  • Agriculture, animal science and food
  • Defence and security industries
  • Fisheries and aquaculture
  • Healthcare and social services
Specialized lab   Equipment  Function
  Containment Level 2 (CL2) 100,000 square feet of level 2 lab space and additional 20,000 square feet of level 2 animal isolation
 

Containment Level 3 (CL3)

 

18 CL3 animal suites (including aerobiology challenge units) that can accommodate most animal species. 6 CL3 laboratories.
Research station 160-acre Research Station Research station certified to containment level 2 able to conduct large animal studies including efficacy trials on horses and cattle.
CL3 aerobiology laboratory Madison Chamber, fully suited Fully suited laboratory for aerobiology challenge experiments including Canada’s only Madison chamber for aerobiology challenge experiments.
Select agent laboratory Class 3 Glovebox Provides infrastructure required to work with select agents as classified by the Federal Select Agent Program in the United States.
  • AbCelex Technologies
  • Alberta Research Chemicals
  • AnGes MG
  • Boehringer Ingelheim
  • Canadian Swine Health Board
  • Elanco
  • Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease
  • Guangzhou Yuanbo Medical Technology Co.
  • Huvepharma
  • Intervet Canada
  • Kamada
  • Konkuk University
  • Lumen Associates
  • Medicago
  • Merck Animal Health
  • Merial
  • Ohio State University
  • Phileo-Lesaffre Animal Care
  • South China Vaccine Corporation
  • SterileCare
  • University of Alberta
  • University of British Columbia
  • University of Calgary
Title URL
University of Saskatchewan gets major federal boost for isotope and vaccine production, water research https://news.usask.ca/media-release-pages/2018/u-of-s-gets-major-federal-boost-for-isotope-and-vacc…
VIDO-InterVac helping to fight Zika virus http://www.vido.org/news/helping-to-fight-zika-virus
University of Saskatchewan VIDO-InterVac develops vaccine for devastating pig virus https://news.usask.ca/media-release-pages/2016/u-of-s-vido-intervac-develops-vaccine-for-devastatin…
Funding awarded to develop vaccines for bovine tuberculosis and Johne’s disease http://vido.org/news/funding-awarded-to-develop-vaccines-for-bovine-tuberculosis-and-johne’s-disease
Government of Canada announces funding to enhance influenza vaccine research and development https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2015/05/government-canada-announces-funding-enhance-influenza…
Saving Lives Through Vaccine Research https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSADlDcPdSk&t=3s
University of Saskatchewan International Vaccine Centre Celebrates Grand Opening http://www.vido.org/news/u-of-s-international-vaccine-centre-celebrates-grand-opening