SASKATOON — The University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) in Canada has been awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, 75N93023D00013, by the United States’ National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
VIDO is one of only seven organizations selected as a member in the NIAID service provider pool. It is also the only non-U.S. organization and the only university-based organization selected. VIDO can participate in providing NIAID’s Preclinical Services for Biopharmaceutical Produce Development in two main areas: Process Development and Related Activities and cGMP Manufacture and Related Activities. The seven-year IDIQ contract is valued up to US$30 million.
“This is a vote of confidence in VIDO’s capabilities and international recognition of their status as a world-class hub of research, development, and vaccine manufacturing capacity,” said Dan Vandal, minister for PrairiesCan.
“This contract marks an important step in Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy – generating economic growth, a strong biomanufacturing ecosystem, and ensuring Canada can lead the response to global infectious disease emergencies.”
VIDO’s Vaccine Development Centre will play an important role in providing services that will help a wide variety of researchers obtain the critical data needed to advance products, partnerships, and complete studies needed to enter clinical trials.
The completion of VIDO’s Vaccine Development Centre was the first step in establishing the organization as Canada’s Centre for Pandemic Research. Other key aspects of the development include an expanded scientific team, establishing containment Level 4 capacity, and building a new animal facility that can house a variety of species.
“The opportunity to engage agencies like the NIAID to use our Vaccine Development Centre ties directly into VIDO’s international engagement strategy. Infectious diseases are a global issue and VIDO is making an increasingly broad and global impact on vaccine development,” said Volker Gerdts, director and CEO, VIDO.
— Submitted by USask Media Relations
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