Government of Canada Funds Two New Research Chairs at VIDO

The research will focus mainly on the development of vaccines to reduce the levels of E. coli O157:H7 and closely-related bacteria in cattle, and Salmonella enteriditis and Campylobacter jejuni in poultry. This will in turn reduce transmission of these pathogens to humans through contaminated food and water. The pathogens are generally harmless to the animals, but pose a significant threat of illness and even death to humans.

“The Government of Canada is dedicated to supporting centres of innovation that lead to healthy living and increase our ability to compete on the world stage,” said Minister Goodale.

“The vaccines developed by the new chairs at VIDO will help safeguard the population against dangerous diseases, benefit farmers and create commercial opportunities for Canadian companies,” added Minister Emerson.

The funding is provided through an NSERC program that promotes research partnerships between the private sector and universities.

Dr. Andy Potter, the senior chairholder, has researched veterinary vaccine development at VIDO for the past two decades, and has focused on the origins of bacterial diseases in cattle, swine and poultry. He has already developed a number of vaccines for use in livestock.

“This funding will certainly allow us to accelerate our work and, over the long term, that means safer food and water,” says Potter. “It will specifically support the creation of new vaccines to counter the majority of food- and water-related infections associated with bacterial pathogens.”

Dr. Wolfgang Köster joins the program as Associate Research Chair. Dr. Köster comes to VIDO from the Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology. He brings extensive experience in the microbiology of food- and water-borne pathogens and a commitment to the development of new drugs to fight these pathogens.

“By embracing a team approach to its research projects, VIDO encourages collaboration between the academic community and industry,” said NSERC President Dr. Tom Brzustowski. “This partnership with Bioniche will help these two outstanding organizations act together to address the risk of food-borne illness.”

The Industrial Research Chairs program is one of many that NSERC supports through its Research Partnerships Programs, whose objectives are to support high-level research that has industrial or social relevance and then transfer the findings to Canadian organizations. Funding for these Chairs is determined through rigorous peer review of research proposals.

Science and Engineering Research Canada (also known by its legal name “Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada as well as the acronym NSERC) is a key federal agency investing in people, discovery and innovation. It supports both basic university research through research grants, and project research through partnerships among postsecondary institutions, government and the private sector, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people.

VIDO is recognized by the scientific community as a world leader in R&D involving the commercialization of vaccines as well as novel formulation and delivery systems for livestock and human diseases. VIDO is a financially self-reliant, non-profit organization owned by the University of Saskatchewan. It operates with substantial support from the governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan as well as Government of Canada and industry competitive grants.

For more information, contact:

Suzanne Godbout
Media Monitoring Officer and Communications Assistant
NSERC Communications
Tel.: (613) 943-0310
E-mail: suzanne.godbout@nserc.ca

Stéphanie Leblanc
Office of the Honourable David L. Emerson
Minister of Industry
Tel.: (613) 995-9001

Tess Laidlaw
Communications Officer, VIDO
University of Saskatchewan
Tel.: (306) 966-1506
Web site: http://www.vido.org/