Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization

Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO)
Not for profit
Industry Science and biotechnology (vaccines)
Founded 1975
Headquarters Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Key people
 Andrew Potter - CEO
Products Research
Number of employees
 140 (2006)
Website www.vido.org

The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization is a non-profit organization owned by the University of Saskatchewan and operates with financial support from the governments of Saskatchewan and Alberta as well as Government of Canada and industry competitive grants. In addition to the 100,000 sq ft (10,000 m2) facility on campus, VIDO also operates a 160-acre (0.6 km2) research station.

VIDO is a member of three National Networks of Centres of Excellence: the Canadian Bacterial Diseases Network, the Canadian Network for Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics (CANVAC), and PrioNet. It has created three spin-off companies (Biostar, Biowest, and Star Biotech) and has worked with start-up companies including PharmaDerm Laboratories, Taiga Bioactivities, Vetrepharm Canada Inc. and Inimex Veterinary Research.

History

Initially called 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 a new 50,000 sq ft (5,000 m2) expansion was completed.

In March 2004, VIDO received funding for the construction of a $140 million Biosafety Level 3 laboratory, the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac) for research into emerging and persistent human and animal diseases. Funding for the InterVac facility 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 and is undergoing commissioning, scheduled for completion in Spring of 2012. VIDO/InterVac is one of the largest Containment Level 3 facilities in North America. It is one of the few Level 3 facilities in the world capable of working with large animals.[1]

Chief executive officer

Vaccines

References

  1. ↑ "Combatting Infectious Disease Through Vaccine Research: VIDO/InterVac at the U of S" (PDF). University of Saskatchewan. 2009. Retrieved 2011-09-30.

External links