To help protect Saskatchewan residents from emerging disease threats, Hospitals of Regina Foundation has invested $150,000 to help establish Canada鈥檚 Centre for Pandemic Research at the University of Saskatchewan鈥檚 Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization.
The foundation鈥檚 investment will support vaccine research and development to strengthen frontline health care and help reduce the impact of future infectious diseases and pandemics.
鈥淲e are grateful to Hospitals of Regina Foundation for this support. Their investment will benefit the people of Saskatchewan, including frontline health-care providers, as we address potential new threats as Canada鈥檚 Centre for Pandemic Research,鈥� said VIDO director and CEO Dr. Volker Gerdts.
This new funding will help expand VIDO鈥檚 infrastructure to develop new vaccines. With the addition of global scientific leaders and enhanced training, VIDO will be poised to lead Canada鈥檚 response to future pandemic threats. 听
鈥淲e are pleased to be investing in this new vaccine centre in our province to support the research and development of a made-in Saskatchewan COVID-19 vaccine, as well as other vaccines that will positively impact the health of our southern Saskatchewan community and prepare our province for the next pandemic,鈥� said HRF president and CEO Dino Sophocleous. 鈥淲ith what we鈥檝e experienced over the past year and a half, this is a needed step in building our capacity to deal with future pandemics.鈥�
During the COVID-19 pandemic, USask鈥檚 VIDO took a national leadership role, and the organization recently announced positive interim Phase 1 results for COVAC-2 鈥� one of VIDO鈥檚 COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
With support from Hospitals of Regina Foundation, other private donors and all levels of government, Canada鈥檚 Centre for Pandemic Research will soon be established at VIDO. This expansion to VIDO鈥檚 infrastructure will be completed during the next three years.
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